While I was still a senior in high school comparing various colleges and what they had to offer, one of the lowest priorities on my list was finding a campus with a thriving Greek Life. I never saw myself joining a fraternity, ever. I identified more with Lewis and Gilbert from Revenge of the Nerds than I did with Bluto and Otter in National Lampoon's Animal House, two films which colored my expectations of Greeks before I ever actually met one. That sort of fraternity life was hardly a good reason to look into an institution of higher education.

I have my books. I have all my dorm room essentials packed and ready to go at a moment's notice. My new backpack is begging to be broken in. All these things confirm what I've been waiting for since the end of June--that the start of fall term 2012 is finally upon us all. In just a few short days, I'll be moving into Anderson Hall for my second year of college.

What I Miss Today... Greek Life!

My name is Mariah Schlepp, and I am a Pinterest addict.  I am also a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, and Pinterest is one of my first go-to places for fun ideas to bring to chapter and recruitment.  Today I was getting all excited for fall recruitment and went on a pinning spree in search of good ideas; after spending more time in front of my computer than I would care to admit, it occurred to me just how much I miss my sisters.

We’re just a little bit past the halfway mark for heading back to school. On Wednesday, I got emails from the school confirming my room assignment, meal plan, and listing move in dates. I actually get to move in a few days before the regularly scheduled date because my sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, gets together in the days before school to start working on formal recruitment, which happens a few weeks into school.

Everyone knows that the best part about a school dance is not the free Panda Express, the sweet venue in downtown Boise, or the charismatic DJ’s (although those things never go unnoticed)… All that anyone really cares about, and remembers for that matter, is getting dressed up, curled, and glossed with the girls!

They make these bracelets for anything. 

This is what my nurse gave me so I'd remember to take my typhoid vaccine every other day. I took a pill each morning, filled with a nice dose of living Typhoid to tango with my immune system. I finished the course today. Hoping that it sticks.

In addition to the dozens of trees full of white and pink flowers, something else blossoms in the spring here at The College of Idaho: Greek life.

Things are going smoothly for the most part. It's the middle of week 3 of Spring term. One of the more defining aspects of this term for me is the fact that I'm not enrolled in one of my classes. As a student, that is. This term I'm serving as an aide to Professor Minear, chair of the psychology department and a teacher who I can say is one of my largest mentors on the campus.