(Well, this is sad. I just realized that this is the last post I’ll ever write about Greek Clubs. It’s been a very consistently entertaining topic the past two and a half years, providing posts like  5 types of Greek Guys You’ll Meet, the same thing for Greek girls, and Everyone Hates Greek Clubs.)

Tap Night 2011. Little did I know…literally.

Four semesters ago, I was the epitome of  two things.

The first: cluelessness. Before coming to Lee, I knew that I wanted to rush a club and be a part of the “sorority” scene but upon arrival, became quickly caught up with a different group of friends, ones who would stay up until curfew debating theology, politics, and morality in the Jazzman’s patio. Their name? Kairos (the honors academic club, for everyone unaware). Right away I found a group that loved me, held thoughtful and intellectual discussions, and appreciated my opinions. I loved it.

Part of me still wanted to rush, so much to the chargin of my honors friends, I finally mustered up enough courage to try. I knew literally three people in the entire Greek world and chose to rush Omega based on a tally chart I made during Humanities class one day. The odds were in my favor, so I decided. I was still a little cynical about the whole thing, so I thought that no matter what, I would be so cool and write a hardhitting expose on Greek inductions and rush process. Labeling things as “social experiments” makes all of your anti-Greek friends a little more accepting of the idea.

Naturally, I knew NOTHING about inductions. Literally….nothing. I thought they called you during tap night and then you all had a celebratory dinner at tap night reception. 

…No. To this very day, my Induction Chair still intimidates me. Note to future people rushing: laughing is a bad, bad strategy.

The second thing I epitomized four semesters ago was loneliness. Sure, I had friends but due to a really tough fall semester, I was really struggling with heavy things, such as depression.  I remember sitting on my bed crying, and I told myself that day that I was going to muster up the courage to rush. I didn’t know how much I needed Omega (and realized that every semester since.) I had groups of friends who loved me, but I needed a family at Lee: people who didn’t just love me for what I brought to the table, but loved me even when I was empty handed and brokenhearted.

But anyways, fast forward unto now. I just took my plaque and the timing was perfect. Although I loved the last two years and would redo it all in a heartbeat, I will not miss contrived relationships, forced authority, and club drama, all of which are inevitable with large bodies of people. Despite some sour and toxic people in the Greek system, there are people who are true treasures and some of the greatest friends, influencers, accountability partners, and world changers I have ever met.

So, here’s the real deal on Greek clubs. Bound by antiquated stigmas and stereotypes, the Lee Greek system of 2012 is fighting for unity and community restoration, and in my opinion, is nearer to the goal now than ever before.

• If you’re rushing sometime in the future, ignorance is bliss. Also, don’t sweat too much because that is so annoying. Be yourself, make them laugh/cry in your interview, blah blah blah.
• If you rushed and were rejected, honestly, it’s nothing against you, but more about timing. It takes so much courage to put yourself out there to a group of relative strangers–you should be so proud of yourself! It’s okay to be upset, but don’t foster bitterness. Maybe something in your life was supposed to happen that semester instead of that club?
• If you’ve met someone particularly awful in a Greek club and thus judge everyone by him/her, shame on you. There are horrible people in Greek clubs–fake people, leeches, selfish people, shallow jerks, you name it. But trust me, they are not unique to Greek systems. There are also some of the sweetest, most selfless, kindhearted, loving people you’ll ever meet. Life’s what you make it and the company you choose defines that as well.
• And finally, for those still in Greek clubs, remember that this isn’t real life. The intramural games, the events, the endless pictures, they’ll end in college. However, the way that you treat others is real life. Maya Angelou once said, “At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” Let’s remember that.

So, that about wraps up my expose. What, did you think I was actually going to tell secrets? Please. While I’ve never been the biggest fan of the system itself, I have too much respect for the people in it. Duh.