As an incoming freshman in college, I was very eager to be a part of every opportunity that came my way in hopes of building my resume and truly experiencing college life at its fullest… at least that’s what I told myself. Ultimately, I just wanted to fit in and make friends. One night my dorm neighbors were going to some kind of sorority recruitment dinner -- so I decided to tag along. Long story short, I ended up joining a popular sorority and then quitting the following year. I didn’t understand, many of my high school friends were joining sororities and they loved theirs… but why didn’t I love mine? Here are 5 reasons why a sorority was not for me and may not be for everyone.

1. Dues are expensive!

Being a part of a sorority is a huge financial burden. At the time I joined, I was working two part-time jobs, taking 16 credit hours, and trying to stay on top of my schoolwork -- I could barely make it all happen. In fact, at this very moment I still owe the sorority money and am gradually paying off dues. Therefore, if you are considering joining a sorority, the financial piece is something I would recommend heavily considering.

2. The time commitment.

Sorority life means you will be attending one event after another and sometimes it can really take a toll! Sure all the socials, semi-formals and other events may be fun, but at times I let my me time and self care go out the window -- as well as my studies. Time management is important!

3. I lost sight of my goals.

Goals: Straight A’s, internship, improving myself, growing into my own person, my relationship and of course graduating. During my sorority experience, I lost sight of the most important things to me because I was in my own little world and way too worried about what others thought of me.

4. Conflict.

When bringing women of all different personalities together in any kind of circumstance, there will always be some kind of drama. I’ll leave it at that.

5. It just wasn't for me.

As simple as that may sound, it’s true. Much of the time I spent in a sorority was great, but it was not something that I could be completely passionate about and dedicated to. At the end of the day, I felt that continuing with membership was not only unfair to me, but to my sisters as well.

Overall, It may seem like I am trying to persuade you against joining a sorority but I'm not. I believe sorority life is worth your time if you are ready for the commitment. It’s a great opportunity to get involved, make life-long friends, and network. With that being said, some of the young women I met when I was a sorority member are still some of my very close friends today. I feel like sorority life is great for some people, but it doesn’t have to work for everyone -- and that’s okay!