My Identity : My Most Important Aspects Of Greek Identity

The ancient Greeks with their brilliant and imaginative spirit created a complete order of things that functioned harmoniously in the infinite world that contained them. Although its exact origins are lost in time, Greek religion is thought to date from about the 2d millenium B.C., when the culture of Aryan invaders fused with those of the Aegean and Minoan peoples who had inhabited the region of Greece from Neolithic times [1]. The beginning and the genesis of this world occupied the ancient Greeks in much the same way it did the early people of every civilization. Greek religion was at the beginning a blend of Minoan, Egyptian, Asian, and other elements, but it subsequently evolved along with Greek thought.

As I had mentioned earlier, I am part of an anti-drugs and alcohol club. I am extended the opportunity to speak to young students about the risks they could encounter. The feeling that those students may look up to us is very meaningful, and I feel it is a unique experience. I am lucky to have the chance to save a student's life through this club. Another community activity I enjoy doing is related to performing, but at senior citizen homes. Some of my friends and I often just like to get together with some music and go sing for them. This is a rewarding experience, as seeing the senior citizens smile, and making their day better, is truly a heartwarming experience every time I have the chance to perform for

For my cultural Identity, I identify as a Greek-American. My culture can be seen in food, Education, religion, language , music, art, dance, history, and architecture. All of these things can be combined into one thing, my culture's morals. I say this because with everything we do we think about what our parents or grandparents would say, how if affects others, and how it affects our reputation. Whenever have a fork in the rode and I need to make a decision, I always think upon my culture's morals to make the right decision.

Throughout my exploratory essay, I found that there are many different perspectives when it comes to Greek life. I as a member of Greek life myself, feel that the positive aspects outweigh the negative. There are many positive advantages that come from being a part of Greek life. There are an abundance of networking opportunities that come from Greek life along with all of the incredible friends that you make throughout the recruitment experience. One may also gain leadership skills from being a member of the executive council and having to lead their chapter on a day to day basis. Being a member of Greek life also pushes you to be more involved on campus as well as in the community. Each Greek organization has a philanthropy that they support

Candace, who also attended the event added that it is hard to go to a Greek Life event because she feels underrepresented, “I feel out of place because what they do does not represent my culture, they look nothing like nor do they do anything that represents my culture for that reason, I automatically feel unwelcomed.”

Through these activities, I have gained crucial skills to interact efficiently with others, and learned how to meet others needs as well. Involving yourself in church activities can help you learn these important skills, as well as empathy and modesty; as you see your own community and yourself grow. And by interacting with the public through artwork is

The article by Carly Stern entitled “The Outdated Double Standard Plaguing Greek Life” has a clear theme, her title states just that. The double standard that exists in Greek Life, chapter recognized organizations, is the limitations Sorority houses have. She starts out stating that “the majority of the 26 recognized sororities are forbidden from hosting parties deserving alcohol in chapter houses… even if residents are 21”. While Fraternities are given permission to host parties by paying extra in insurance to cover the cost of damages, Sororities are not allowed to do so, many of these Sororities are not even allowed to have male guests in their home as guests. With this being the 21st century women are more proactive and independent and they are breaking barriers in academia and I the professional world, but yet under national chapters Sorority sisters are being restricted.

The first of two notable periods of Greek immigration to the United States began in the 1800s and continued until the 1920s. According to chnm.gmu.edu (n.d.), the economic crisis in Greece caused many Greek families to send their sons to the United States to make money to send back home to Greece. The second wave of Greek immigration occurred after World War II with the passage of Immigration and National Origins Act of 1965. This opened the door for many Greeks who had family already living in the United States, to come join them. The second generation of Greek Americans had been established by this time and they had established Greek communities as well as various businesses that were thriving.

Greek life plays a major role in colleges and universities all across the United States. Greek life allows men and women to join an organization and create a long lasting bond, as brothers or sisters, which they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. College campuses explore and boast about the positive impacts that Greek life has on students as well as the community around them. However, even with fraternities and sororities being on college campuses for decades, few people outside the Greek life community have discovered the real, enduring process that it takes to become a "brother" or "sister". Throughout my research, I will be focusing on the negative effects that fraternities and sororities pose upon pledges. This includes hazing

Have you ever seen the television series Greek? It is full of sex, drugs, and alcohol; the three main elements that make up a typical frat boy or sorority girl’s life. Students involved in Greek life are always throwing wild parties and drinking until they pass out, getting involved in the drama of who slept with whose boyfriend, sending their pledges on crazy tasks in the middle of the night, and never seeming to take any responsibility. However, there is only one thing missing from this hit series; the truth. Greek life is not how it appears on television, my sorority embodies much more than that. Tri Sigma establishes meaningful friendships, builds character, and promotes community involvement.

My view regarding the stigma behind Greek life is one of optimism, as I truly believe that it is in the organizations' hands to combat the negative perception. On IFC we had to deal with this stigma as we held forums to target recruits as they came in for orientation. What I found was misinformation regarding Greek life, as a whole. It is perceived that Greek life is in a bubble and I believe unfortunately that Greek houses alienate themselves from the general population on campuses. In order to defeat the negative stigma, Greek organizations must create more reach out to not only other on campus organizations, but amongst prominent organizations in the surrounding community. This outreach begins to disband the disconnect between affiliated

“Dale, dale, dale, No pierdas el tino; Porque si lo pierdes, Pierdes el camino”. The classic piñata song that is sung at parties. It translates to “Go, go, go, don't lose your aim; because if you lose it, you will lose your path.” The phrase ties in with my identity because of my cultural background and experiences at parties. Who am I? What is my cultural identity? The questions that have me trying my best not to have an existential crisis. I am a Mexican American, my parents were born in Jalisco and I was born in California. As for my cultural identity, I am a NSHS student that has been shaped by music, technology, and sports.

What defines Greekness? What really is Greekness? These are important questions to ask because the answers to them will end up forming what we know today as the ancient Greeks. Professor Lynette Mitchell at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom partially examined these questions herself in her short paper Greekness (2012) which appears in The Encyclopedia of Ancient History (2012). Professor Mitchell cites Herodotus 8.144.2 which is an examination of the topic of “Greekness” from Herodotus. In 8.144.2 Herodotus talks about why the Greeks would not sell out themselves to the Persians in 492 BCE because of their “Greekness”. Perhaps most interestingly, Herodotus not only references shared blood as an important aspect of what it means to be Greek but also “speech”, and gods / religious practices that that they have in common. Ms. Mitchell then builds off Herodotus’ explanation by referencing the importance of the Homeric Epic Poems, and examining the history of “cultural community”. Emma Dench of Harvard University also wrote a paper on the topic of Greekness and it was also appropriately titled Greekness (2002). Dr. Dench’s paper was part of a larger work by Jonathan M. Hall of the University of Chicago titled Hellenicity: Between Ethnicity and Culture (Chicago, 2002). Professor Dench is able to determine, through the examination of Herodotus’ Histories, that blood is a far less important trait in respect to Greekness then language, gods, or customs is. Through the

At my church I help clean, watch the kids, organize the youth group, plan plays, plan trips, and serve communion. Helping out at the church is one of my favorite things to do because I get to do so much. My favorite things that I do at the church are with the youth group. I organize who all needs a ride, what we will be working on that day, and the activity afterwards. I also plan the trips in the summer and which camp we will go to. And at church events I keep an eye on the kids for their parents and find things fun for them to do. I clean up after church, meetings, and events. Usually it only takes a little over an hour and a half to do. On Sundays I serve communion and sometimes I even read scripture. We do an Easter play and a Christmas play every year and I help decide what play we will do and organize the meetings and the performance

¨Pereme-what? That is the weirdest and longest last name i've ever heard of! Where do people get last names like that?¨ My answer? Well, my grandfather is from Siberia, but my family just consider ourselves Russian. Actually not long ago my dad had told me about a city in Russia called Peremyshl, my great great grandparents, as I was told, are from there, Peremyshl is in the Kaluga Oblast near Moscow. And because of my ethnic background, I go to my church's youth, our youth really likes to go and hang out at the park or go someplace else and play volleyball.