Greek Life? No way! Okay, maybe.

Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life | UCF

Coming into college, I did not expect to go Greek. To be honest, I had the (false) pre conceived notion that Greeks dangerously partied and ultimately paid people to be their friends. Thanks to the media, a lot of people assume that’s the case. It wasn’t until my sophomore year of Fall 2009 that my whole perspective on Greek life changed.

I cruised by my freshman year not being involved in anything. I was one of those freshman who would walk to class and go straight back to my dorm. I lived with my best friend, Rachael, so all we pretty much needed at the time was each other. My sophomore year, I moved to a student affiliated off campus apartment complex without Rachael. I had moved in with my friend from high school, Michelle, and had two “random” roommates, Lindsey and Dupe. The first few months in my new apartment, I did my familiar routine when I was a freshman; go to class and then come back home. One evening, Lindsey asked me to go into her room to help her choose an outfit. She was going to an event. I liked the fact that she said she was going to a “social event for my sorority.” It sounded as if she was going to a hot party with A-list celebrities. I then saw her put on a white jacket with Greek letters stitched on the left side, with a big ‘45’ centered on the back and a name that wasn’t ‘Lindsey’ on top of the number. And that’s when it happened. I wanted a jacket like that. I wanted to be Greek.

I asked Lindsey more about her sorority and she told me it was called ‘Delta Phi Lambda,’ which happened to be an Asian- Sorority. Asian Sorority?! I’m half Asian, but I didn’t know if I was that Asian to join a whole sorority for it. I’m a girl from Miami, a place where Spanish is the dominant language and Hispanic food was found on every block. I was a Hispanic-infused Asian, if you will. She asked me to hang out with her and her sisters, just so I could get to know them. I had never seen so many Asian women in one room in my entire life. But I grew to like them and instantly, I knew this is what I wanted to be a part of. Their sisterhood was so close. Everyone spoke to each other and laughed and hugged. There was so much laughter in one room that I could feel the love.

I did my research on this ‘Delta Phi Lambda’ and found that they stood for virtues that were sounded serious: loyalty, honesty, respect, dedication, integrity, discipline, and academic excellence. I didn’t know what each meant specifically, but I grew up in a family where honesty and respect were the two main characteristics one should have. I also found that they did a lot of community service and were very social and well-known throughout the campus. All of this and my desire for a white jacket, which they called ‘line jackets,’ confirmed that I wanted to be a sister of Delta Phi Lambda. This was the first goal I really ever set for myself.

By the time Spring 2010 came around, I ‘crossed’ into the sisterhood and became a proud Sister of Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. To this day, it has been one of my biggest and greatest accomplishments and something I’ve been actively involved in for the past 2 years. Delta Phi Lambda (DPhiL) taught me things that I could’ve never learned on my own in college, but ultimately it taught me ways on how I can be successful. With over 60 sisters at UCF, I’m able to network and get advice from those in the professional world and those just starting out. I’ve met so many great people from other Greek lettered organizations, as well.  I never thought I would go Greek, but I’m glad I did. My college experience wouldn’t be the same without it. So for those hesitant about going Greek, research them all and find the one that’s right for you. For more information on UCF’s Greek Lettered organizations, visit http://fsl.sdes.ucf.edu/