Before college, I thought that Greek life was something that I would never be a part of. Based on the experiences my friends had with their organizations and the negative stigmas and stereotypes surrounding sororities, I had very strong opinions on Greek life altogether. However, yesterday marked the one year anniversary of me becoming a sister of Theta Phi Alpha, the most incredible group of women I know, and I can honestly say my opinions have changed, my assumptions were wrong, and that while some things may be true for some organizations, not everything you hear is true.

8. "Being in a sorority/ fraternity is just paying for your friends."

This is the farthest thing from true. Each organization has dues that they have to pay each semester, and the money doesn't go to you making new connections. It goes to the chapter necessities, sisterhood activities, the national office of your organization, and to your house if you have one. You're not paying for stuffed animals and glitter, it's things that matter. Most people don't realize that sororities and fraternities aren't the only organizations with fees, either. Honor societies and academic organizations also have dues you have to pay by semester. And like sororities and fraternities, their dues also go to the necessities and national offices of their organizations.

7. "Sorority girls come from wealthy families."

"If she can afford to be in that sorority, then she must have money." This assumption is very far from true. I know many women from different organizations that pay for college tuition and dues on their own. Not everyone comes from first class families and when you're in a group of 80+ women, there are bound to be different people with different financial backgrounds.

6. "Sorority girls all look the same and act the same."

NOT ALL SORORITIES LOOK THE SAME. I would like to say that my sisters and I pride ourselves on diversity. We all come from different families, countries, and have different cultural backgrounds. We're brought together by the values we share and the bonds we create, and even though we're all different, we're connected by our beliefs, not by our physical appearances.

5. "If you're in a sorority, you're dumb."

In order to be eligible to rush, there is a GPA requirement that you must meet (usually a 2.5 or higher depending on your school or national organization requirement). You're going to college to further your education; it's your number one priority. If you want to be a part of Greek life, you should be able to maintain your studies. My sisters and friends in Greek life are some of the smartest people I know and have very high GPAs.

4. We all date frat guys.

Like most people, we date who we like. If we end up dating someone who is in a fraternity, then that's okay. But, even sorority girls have different preferences when it comes to dating. Not all of us like frat boys or jock type men and not all of us are heterosexual. A few of my sisters have the coolest girlfriends I ever met. Just because I'm in a sorority doesn't mean that I should be obligated to date or that my preference is men/men in fraternities.

3. Sorority girls are super girly.

Not all of us love dressing up or wearing makeup. Some of us enjoy wearing sweatpants and going to play paintball. Some of us like wearing boots and going horseback riding. I personally like wearing t-shirts and Chuck Taylor's most days. We all like to look nice when it comes to out events and special occasions, but by no means does that mean we all like to dress up and put on a full face every day. It's your body and your choice as to what you wear and how you look, and you can do whatever you like whether it's wearing heels and skirts or beanies and flannels.

2. "All sorority girls do is sleep around and party."

Here and now in 2017, some people DO have sex and some people DO go to parties while in college. However, labeling an entire group of women as slutty party animals based on their extracurricular activities is wrong and untrue. As a group, we may go out to have fun together, but that doesn't mean all we do is drink. It may be a fun pass time for some sisters, but not all sisters enjoy drinking. We make plans like ice skating, pumpkin picking, rock climbing, and just hang out by ourselves and/or with other organizations. We just enjoy spending time together in general, and we don't have to be drunk to do it. If you like to party, that's okay. If you don't like to party, that is also okay. Also, when it comes to a person's sex life, it's their business and no one else's. If they're confident enough to tell you, you should support them and not judge them based on their decisions.

1. "All sororities haze."

At FDU and in Theta Phi Alpha, we have a ZERO tolerance hazing policy and we do not take part in hazing. As a new member, we believe your process should be filled with great memories and good times. We want you to be a part of our sisterhood and we want to love and support you. Why make someone go through terrifying things when you want them to be a part of something better than that?