“Eleanor, you’re the perfect candidate. Just fill it out, and I’ll turn it in to the deciding committee,” said a member of my sorority’s executive board, as she handed me an application for Greek Woman of the Month. Right, and how exactly am I the “perfect candidate?”

I didn’t even read the application for days because I dreaded seeing lines upon lines of information to fill out about myself. A job application without the possibly life-changing outcome. Or would it be just that? Nah, but as I read the application, my intrigue grew simultaneously with my puzzlement. After wading through the usual name and identifying criteria, the discussion question stumped me: Explain what the Greek community means to you. You can express this in a variety of ways. And then the form proceeded to give examples such as essays, pictures, journals…

I’ve been a Greek since that hot-as-the-Sahara day when I donned a white dress, attempting to ignore the hollering boys driving by in pick-up trucks as I entered the front lawn of my sorority. (I still remember seeing truck after truck with couches piled in the bed topped with shaggy-haired boys throwing back beers meanwhile checking out the fresh meat.) In my four years with such affiliation, I never took the time to sit down and compile my thoughts about life as part of the Greek system. Calling an acquaintance, who I remembered applied for the recognition (and received it) last year, I queried, “So, what did you do for the explanatory portion? I mean it’s awfully vague, and I’m trying to come up with a way to tackle this.”

“Oh, well I made this collage with a bunch of cut-outs pasted to it,” Melissa replied, all the while emphasizing that she was sure I wouldn’t have a problem with my application. Shows why she’s an acquaintance.

I write; that’s what I do. But I stared at my Apple screen waiting for the words of wisdom to summarize my Greek experience. Nothing elaborate came to mind; just three simple words: Leadership. Scholarship. Involvement.

Being Greek is more than outrageous band parties, themed socials and letters on your rear windshield. My sorority involvement serves as the bridge to volunteerism, study groups and guidance (both by me and for me). I realize progress can always be made with any organization, but the sororities and fraternities on campus actively work as a cohesive unit toward common goals or beliefs. Whether that means attending other chapters’ philanthropy events, hanging sheets in remembrance of a fallen Greek or fighting in good fun in competition, my membership within the Greek society has added immense quality to my college time. Nonetheless, the jury’s still out on my “perfect candidate” status.