What it”s like to leave or be a part of a Greek legacy
Dads” Weekend is here, and as always it brings multiple alumni from University of Idaho”s fraternities and sororities back to school again.
Some parents get an inside look at Greek life for the first time during Dads” Weekend, while others are very familiar with the process and are instead taking a trip back in time to when they were in college.
Sometimes I catch myself wondering about my future children and whether they will end up Greek, and if so, what house they might become a part of. Of course, my first thought was if they would end up in my own fraternity, carrying on the legacy.
I quickly came to the conclusion that no matter what house they end up in, I would be proud that they simply chose to go Greek.
Every chapter is different at every college, and I would ultimately want them to be somewhere they feel comfortable. My future kids deserve to have their own Greek experience.
Alexander Milles
Typically, legacies have a better chance of ending up in the house of their relatives than other prospective members. But if you are a legacy, you should try to keep an open mind for every house.
One of the best things about being in the Greek system is that you create and leave a legacy whether you were already born into one, or are a first generation Greek. You give your children the chance to join an amazing brotherhood or sisterhood.
One of the coolest things to see during Dads” Weekend are the family connections. Not only do you have your fraternity brothers and sorority sisters, but also their biological families. Often Greeks will go to each other”s houses for school breaks, or go on vacation with each other. Every member of your house and their families become a part of your organization.
Alumni who come back to reflect on their college experiences with current students are also an amazing part of Greek life. They are not only members who have left their own legacy, but they also act as mentors to active members.
Leaving a legacy is different for everyone. College can just be four years of your life, or it can be the four years that changed your life. Being in the Greek system, you get out of it as much as you put into it, and afterward that is how younger generations of Greek members will remember you – that is your legacy.
No matter if you are a first generation Greek or a five-time legacy, now would be a good time to think about the legacy you want to leave. Five years from now, you could not even remember being a part of the Greek system, or you could end up looking back on this time with pride.
Alexander Milles can be reached at [email protected]