Unless you are part of one, it is hard to understand how great sororities really are. They are full of lifelong friendships, amazing philanthropy, professional connections and so much more. Though us ladies involved already know that, people outside of Greek Life tend to judge and misunderstand what it is all about. Here are a couple of stereotypes that are completely untrue, explained.

1. "Sorority girls pay for their friends."

This may be the most frustrating of all. Yes, we pay dues, and yes because of our sorority we have friends we may not have met otherwise. But everyone pays for college, right? And everyone makes friends in college, right? So is that to say that everyone in college, Greek life or not, pay for their friends? It can be taken many ways, but this ignorant statement is not the epitome of what goes on in a sorority.

Our dues go towards a plethora of things: philanthropic events and fundraising, academic success and encouragement, functions and sisterhood events, participation in other Greek organizations philanthropy events and much more.

Yes, I pay dues, but I choose my own friends and am very fortunate to have met every single one of them, in my sorority or not.

2. "Sorority girls are so basic, all they wear are pearls and Lilly Pulitzer."

Firstly, there's not a girl in my pledge class I've seen wear Lilly since I joined. And if she did, to each their own! Sororities, specifically the one I am apart of, preach nothing but self-confidence and individuality. That is why most of us were all drawn to each other because we are all so different.

Did I mention I wore a snowman onesie to one of our functions? Yeah, not a Lilly dress and pearls.

I meet people all the time, even with my sorority sisters, who have no idea that we are even apart of an organization like we are because they are so set on the sorority girls portrayed in movies and on TV, which brings me to my next point.

3. "Wow, she's in a sorority? She must be a slut."

Greek parties on TV consist of pillow fights, push-up bras, douchey frat boys doing keg stands (sometimes true) and usually something catastrophic. Well in real life, we can't even throw parties at our houses (dependent on the college) and if anything catastrophic happens, there are usually 10 or 12 of us "sisters" backing each other up and making sure everything is OK.

As for the sluttiness, I see no difference in the lives of Greek life students and non-Greek life students when it comes to bad behavior. We even have a panel of sisters who look out for our well-being and upstanding reputations. Also, it's 2017, stop slut-shaming.

4. "You only hang out with girls in your sorority."

As for the parties aforementioned, nine out of ten of these shindigs are really fun and not everyone there is in Greek life! Yeah, for real! I have so many friends who hang around my guy fraternity friends and my girl sorority friends who never even considered going into Greek life. And yes, we are all still buds.

I also have friends in not only my sorority but other sororities on campus, I even live with one! There are girls I study with, work with, eat with, workout with and so much more who I have met outside of my own group of friends.

5. "You're in a sorority? You must be rich."

WRONG. Very very wrong. A good percent of girls in Greek life, in fact, pay their own dues without "Daddy's Money" that we are so often accused of abusing. Most of us work throughout the school year and summer to support our dues and I personally do not regret a minute of it.

6. "Sorority girls are vapid and dumb."

Oh, come on! So you are telling me, all 400 members are going nowhere in life? My chapter's average GPA in 2016-2017 was a 3.51 — tell me that those girls do not work hard. Actually, the sorority community's GPA was 3.46 while the non-sorority community's was only 3.28 last year. Take that for data.

There is not one exam period that I don't see at least 20 girls at a time studying their butts off in our dining room to keep up their high GPAs and do well in their college careers. We have members on full scholarships, in the honors programs and who will one day compete with Ivy League students for exceptional careers. Three of my best friends have been preparing for law school since freshman year! Tell me that is a sorority girl being "vapid and dumb."

7. "They make sorority girls starve themselves."

Exhibit A: Brunch at my sorority house.

Case closed.

8. "You have to get hazed to get in."

The absolute worst. This is in no way true, AT ALL. Since the day I accepted my bid my "sisters" have been nothing but nice, inviting, warm, caring, loving and so much more but none of these things have been hazing. Hazing is a serious, serious problem that should be absolutely unheard of by now. No girl (or guy) should be afraid to be apart of Greek life because of the thought that they may be hazed. Of all of the things listed, DO NOT BELIEVE THIS STEREOTYPE.

And if this is a problem you have run into, do not be afraid to get help or do research on what you can do.

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All in all Greek life is an amazing place to make friends, raise money, be motivated, etc. Although some may think it is not for them, it never hurts to try. I have not regretted my decision to pledge since my freshman year and will always cherish the memories I have with my best gals. Beat the stereotypes and go Greek!