From the outside, you will never be able to understand it. From the inside, you can never explain it. As a former member of the Epsilon Iota chapter of Delta Zeta sorority here at Fairmont State University, I have found myself confronted with the many misconceptions and realities that surround Greek life. Many people think they know everything they need to know about Greek life because they have seen it in movies and on television. Some of the assumptions people make when they think about Greek life are that members of fraternities and sororities pay for friends, are hazed to get initiated, and spend all their time partying and drinking. People also believe that Greek life is not conducive to social and spiritual development, that being a member interferes with academic performance, and that fraternities or sororities do not benefit the surrounding communities. My mother was the first person to question my decision to become a member of Greek life. She assumed I was going to be hazed, that there would be a lot of partying, and she asked me why I wanted to pay for friends. Hazing is the most feared concept associated with Greek life today. However, hazing is not limited to Greek life; any organization can confuse its members. Although hazing can be extremely dangerous and in some cases lead to death, it is very frowned upon. Greek organizations nationally and internationally are working hard to completely eliminate hazing from Greek culture. They do this by strictly enforcing anti-hazing policies and informing each member of the rules and laws against hazing and its repercussions. The second thing that concerned my mother was that I ...... middle of paper ......lives rather than doing their own research on the subject. If they had, they would have learned that Greek organizations are about more than social events, group photos, and money-making activities for friends. You are paying for the chance to join a group of young people who will not only become your best friends, but also your family. Being a part of Greek life fosters young leaders by teaching you social and organizational skills, as well as learning from a young age how to give back to a community that has given us so much. You learn the importance of teamwork, how to become a leader, how to listen and eventually mentor those who come after you. Works Cited “Greek Myths.” Greek myths / Interfraternity Council. Np, and Web. May 2, 2014. “Service and philanthropy. » Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. Np, and Web. May 2, 2014. “In the service of others. » Delta Zeta. Np, and Web. May 2 2014.