Why are We Relevant?

Mar 6

For almost a week now, I have been pondering the question asked of 1000+ Greeks at a conference called NGLA.

"Why are you relevant?"

No one seemed to have an answer. I was personally just praying the speaker didn't ask me because I didn't have a clue what I would say.

I have continually asked myself this question since Friday morning, and it took me until tonight to even think of an answer.

"Why ARE you (as a Greek) relevant?"

The students at the conference said things like:
We are leaders-so are the students in iLead and on executive boards of any type
We are scholars-so are the people in the honors college
We are philanthropic-so is anyone who does community service or raises money
We have values-so does the church group on campus
We are brothers and sisters-so are the Olsen twins

But what really makes Greeks relevant, is that we are the only collective group of students (and alumni) that are ALL of these things. We are level-headed leaders, dedicated scholars, philanthropic servicemen, moral citizens, and loving brothers/sisters.

I think the moment of revelation was when I crossed "enemy territory." Fraternities think that since there are 2 NPC organizations we automatically hate each other. But this weekend proved that we are sisters nonetheless. I sat in a room with two sisters of DPhiE and vented until my face turned blue and laughed until I got a headache (literally). And in those moments, whether a heart-to-heart or a funny joke, I realized my letters don't matter. Don't get me wrong, I take total pride in my sorority and I for no reason would abandon my letters, but those girls are my sisters and I love and adore them. And they taught me through their continuous support, open ears, reassuring texts, and funny pictures that I'm part of a global community bigger than myself, and all these people ARE my brothers and sisters.

I have a lot to be grateful for. Even on the days I wake up annoyed at my sisters, I can go next door, down the block, to the row, in the dorms and find someone with letters (whether in their chest or on their heart), and be grateful.

"No matter the letters we're ally tied together."

So "why am I relevant?"

Because I'm:
Distracted, yet focused
Proud, yet humble
Selective, yet trusting
Lazy, yet dedicated
Neglectful, yet protective
Judgmental, yet loving
Enemy, yet friend
And I'm...
Something, yet EVERYTHING all at once.