Pro Greek Parents Who Weren't Greek

DeltaSigStan · #1 10-13-2004, 04:56 PM

It's funny how many people whose parents were born outside the U.S are so opposed to the idea of Greek Life.

So, this thread is for those with parents who weren't greek but are totally supportive of your membership. They don't have to be born outside the country, but its rare.

Both my parents were born and raised in the Philippines, and have seen the stereotypes, but have also seen the good we do, and are totally down with the idea.

Taualumna · #2 10-13-2004, 04:58 PM

My parents didn't really have a clue what GLOs were, and I think they still don't. I basically said that it was like Girl Guides, but for university students and alumnae, so they were okay with it.

oncelurked · #3 10-13-2004, 05:32 PM

As my parents did not attend college (unless you count 3 weeks of community college), my parents had no idea what GLOs were other than what they saw in the movies. They still don't really have much of an opinion and my mom can't really identify with it even still (this is after three years as an active and one as an alumna). However, if you ask my chapter who sewed most of our banners for Recruitment while I was active, they'll all say my mom. So, I guess I'd say they're actually just supportive of whatever I do, GLO-related or not

adduncan · #4 10-13-2004, 06:04 PM

My inlaws are in this category. They were farmers w/ HS diplomas but encouraged all 5 of their kids to affiliate w/ a GLO so they would have a support system, stay in school, get their degrees and be successful.

3 out of 5 joined GLOs. All 3 of them finished their degrees and went on to have very successful careers.

The other 2 did not affiliate - and neither of them finished school and their careers have been, shall we say, "bumpy".

Not exactly a scientifically-controlled study, but it's all the evidence my FIL/MIL need. This is why they encouraged their grandchildren to go Greek and they were my biggest support (other than Mr. A) in my AI pursuit.

--add

CatStarESP4 · #5 10-13-2004, 06:06 PM

My parents were at first anti-Greek. When I co-founded my sorority, I won them over to the Pro-Greek side. They know about the good things we do.

Betarulz! · #6 10-13-2004, 06:23 PM

My parents were very pro-greek.

My dad was rushed back in the day, but knew that he couldn't afford it, so he never went through with it. My mom was discouraged by her mother, who had been turned down for a sorority during her undergraduate days just because she didn't have a cashmere sweater which was popular at the time (or so she claims is the reason...) But my mom saw her little sister join a chapter and thought it was pretty positive.

When I finally decided to rush, they both were really supportive since I was going to be out of state and didn't know anyone except for one girl that I was meeting at Nebraska to fulfill our long distance relationship that had gone on all second semester senior year. They both wanted to make sure that I ended up with friends other than her, so that if and when everything fell apart, I wouldn't be stuck all alone.

They've seen how positive an experience it has been for me that my little brother is basically going to be required to go greek when he goes off to college.

CaliPhiSig03 · #7 10-13-2004, 06:35 PM

My mom is from Honduras and is absolutely pro-Greek. She was excited when my sister became an Alpha Phi, and a little disappointed when she disaffilated.

My dad went to Long Beach State in the 70's, I've never heard him talk about Greeks before, but he's never asked me dumb questions like, "So do you ladies really paddle each other?"

It was highly expected that I would join a sorority, so when I did last year, my parents were (and still are) super excited, proud, and most importantly, supportive. I'm really thankful to have gotten encouraging parents. My mom even wears her mother's pin to work everyday!

LatinaAlumna · #8 10-13-2004, 07:28 PM

My parents liked the fact that I had sisters supporting me while I was in college. Being raised in the era of the Chicano Movement, they were (and still are) very proud to see a group of Latinas at the university who are successful and supportive of the community.

AChiOAlumna · #9 10-13-2004, 07:45 PM

I don't think my parents completely understood what I was joining. My dad graduated from college as an older adult and my mom never went to college. They wouldn't help me with my dues and fees, but they did purchase my badge for me as an initiation gift.

My sister was anti-greek in college, but she roomed with the Panhellenic President, so she was involved in the greek system in an indirect way. She refused to Rush because she felt she was getting all the benefits without actually joining (the partying, the social aspect, etc.). Of course those of us in a GLO know differently.

On another note, my father-in-law and sister-in-law were greek...FIL=TKE and SIL=XO...since graduation though, neither one has been involved as an alum...so my husband is learning about alum activities through my own involvement. He wasn't so sure about it at first, but now he's very supportive despite his own "non-greek" status.

sigtau305 · #10 10-13-2004, 08:25 PM

I'm fortunate that my parents were supportive, even though it took a while longer to get used to it.

Munchkin03 · #11 10-13-2004, 08:33 PM

My parents are pretty apathetic, but my mother did make me an AXO quilt, so they're not totally unsupportive. Although other family members make the distincition between my being an AXO and my sister's membership in AKA (and belittle my choice!), my parents see that our Greek experiences were more similar than different.

I chalk it up to the time during which they went to college, and they went to schools that didn't have big Greek systems even when fraternity membership was more popular. Plus, Papa went to school to be an engineer--not much time to pledge there!

_Lisa_ · #12 10-13-2004, 08:38 PM

My parents were pretty apathetic about the whole situation until the day that we had a Parents Lunch & they got to meet my sisters & their families. After that they were very enthusiastic about my involvement in Sigma Kappa.

KSUViolet06 · #13 10-13-2004, 09:43 PM

My GRANDPARENTS never went to college and they are my biggest supporters!

ADqtPiMel · #14 10-13-2004, 09:47 PM

My mom is a Theta, so she naturally supports my membership in ADPi. My dad didn't go to college, so he didn't really get it at first. But he is very supportive and frequently wears his ADPi Dad's Weekend polo to visit me at Miami.

BellaBerlee · #15 10-13-2004, 10:03 PM

My dad was sort of against it, knowing the financial burdens it can be. But I told him this is something I have wanted to do since high school and its like a once in a life time college thing! He wasn't thrilled ... but was happy when I got my bid and congratulated me....but after my first chapter and told him about Father Daughter weekend he couldn't wait! The only real negative thing was, I was telling him when I would get initiated and he's like "they better not do any stupid crap I know college students do" and I was like "daddd" lol... But now he thinks about all the times in Brownies when we had father/daughter dances and dinners and such....I think hes secretly excited