Parents Have a Negative Image of Greeks

[justhey76]

I am a soon to be freshman, and I have ALWAYS planned on rushing. I have gone to what seems like every website available about Greek life, I have checked out books from the library, and I have done a lot to educate myself about Greek life. I MENTONED my intentions of rushing this fall to my parents, but I never got their opinion because I am paying for ALL of my school expenses (tuition, etc), including sorority fees, so I didn’t even think to get their PERMISSION to rush, since I am going to be responsible for the finances. Just recently, I found out that they don’t want me to rush at all. Now, I will be rushing in just three short months and my parents are avidly against it, and I don’t want create resentment by rushing against their wishes. They honestly think that Greeks are just all about being totally wild. They believe that I will pledge, and suddenly all of my morals will go down the drain, and I will turn into a skank (pardon), my grades will be awful, I will drink all the time, and I will become snobby, rude, and materialistic. THAT IS REALLY WHAT THEY THINK BEING GREEK IS ALL ABOUT!!!!!!!! I don’t know how to change their minds. I have given them the “blah in blah of the US presidents were Greek, and so and so percentage of the 50 top CEO’s are Greek” statistics, but those statistics are not enough for them. They just don’t SEE what I see in collegiate Greek life!! I see many upstanding young adults who are leaders at their universities, and who bring out the BEST of their campuses, NOT the worst. I honestly believe that Greek life will have an amazing impact on me, helping me become a better student, a better leader, a better philanthropist, and it allow me to make AMAZING and very positive friends, but how can I show this to my parents before rush starts? Since I won’t be able to actually PROVE it until I am part of a sorority, what can I do right NOW to convince them that it won’t be a negative experience for me? Any suggestions? Maybe some statistics that I haven’t been able to come up with? Anybody know of studies that compared ALL college students to Greek students? Or perhaps, studies that focus on POSITIVE aspects of Greek life I can show them? I really want to be Greek, but I also want to obey my parent’s wishes. I need HELP!!!