College. It has been the best four years of my life. I am very sad to leave the campus that has seen me blossom from a shy freshman to a mature alumna with many interests. The College of Charleston is the best place on Earth to spend your undergraduate years. There are so many opportunities waiting at your fingertips, but the best one of all? Greek Life.

I came to college knowing I wanted to be a part of the Greek Community. Seeing my mother have an annual getaway with her college sorority sisters 30 years later inspired me to ‘Go Greek’. I wanted to find my best friends, pledge sisters, and future bridesmaids in a sorority. My recruitment process wasn’t easy in the least, as it is always a stressful time for everyone. I look back and know that I put my trust in the system and wound up where I needed to be, a sister of Sigma Delta Tau.

I immediately became involved once I was initiated, holding positions from New Member Educator to Standards Chairwoman. I saw these opportunities for leadership in the sorority and ran with them. As I was so absorbed within my own chapter, I was searching to be a part of something more. That is when I applied for a position on the Panhellenic Executive Board. I cannot explain to you the wonderful people I met throughout this incredible experience. Being able to relate to people in other chapters and knowing that you’re not the only one is an amazing feeling. Being on Panhellenic Exec for two consecutive years provided me with incredible amounts of leadership, insight, and wisdom into the Panhellenic community. I have learned so much about myself through my leadership opportunities, none of which would have been possible without Sigma Delta Tau.

I have been so blessed to be a member of an incredible organization, and I am not giving back by participating on a National level as a National Advisor. I leave you now with words that describe my sorority experience written by John Shertzer:
“As she stared at the letters outside of the house, she had a humble feeling. What a blessed privilege it was, to not only be a college graduate, but to have taken the ride in a vehicle such as this. To have experiences that gave her confidence, took away her insecurities, and bolstered her self-esteem. To be given a chance to lead. To follow. To work alongside so many other wonderful people. To be something more.

Her feet had taken her here so that she could say two simple words. Two words that signify a college life well lived. She had said them to professors, advisors, and peers. And now as she stared at this entity that she had wrapped her college life around, and was moved to those words out loud. She glanced up, with a knowing smile and said: “Thank you.””

It’s unfortunate, but largely thanks to pop-culture portrayals of Greek Life in movies and television, many people think that to join a fraternity or a sorority means that you’ll spend your days swilling alcohol and generally behaving badly. My experience was vastly different, however, and I am thankful for it. I would not be where I am today without having been part of the Greek community at the College of Charleston.

My father was also in Kappa Sigma, so growing up I heard lots of stories about how much fun he had as an undergraduate and how he met people that remain his friends to this day – some of those same people are now friends of mine as well thanks to the common bond that we all share. But his time as a Greek meant more to my father than just lasting friendships: my father would attribute much of his career success to having been Greek.

I can make that same claim now as well because having been in Kappa Sigma taught me many things that a college student cannot learn in the classroom. For instance, my time as a Greek taught me how to effectively communicate with the administration at the College. Along with the other officers in my chapter, I successfully petitioned and presented for the use of  a historical house as our chapter house. This gave me invaluable experience and confidence in my abilities which later helped facilitate a rapid promotion to management with a previous employer. That promotion – which came years before it might have otherwise – gave me the chance that I needed to further my career and prove that I am a valuable employee.

I am very comfortable with public speaking because of the experience that I gained while serving as an officer in my chapter. I now speak publicly several times a week for my position here at CofC, and I was able to truthfully highlight that during my interview in order to secure my current job.

I also learned how to work with others towards a common goal, even while sometimes disagreeing with those I am working with. This is one of the most valuable lessons that I gained from being in Kappa Sigma, and I still benefit from it to this day. Despite the current economy, I have been able to find not just work, but challenging, desirable employment. I attribute that to the head start I got from going Greek.

I continue to be involved with my fraternity as well. My life with Kappa Sigma did not end when I walked across the Cistern at graduation. I am currently the president of my alumni chapter, and I serve as an advisor to the undergraduate chapter even now. To say that this has been rewarding would be an understatement.

I could go on for quite some time about how meaningful and significant being Greek has been to me, but I really think that it is something that you should experience for yourself. Being Greek is not what Hollywood portrays. It is so much better than that! You will be doing yourself a life-long favor by joining a fraternity or a sorority. My life is much richer (and a lot more fun) thanks to Kappa Sigma. These are the sorts of things that you can expect when you go Greek.

Phil Stevenson ’06