You make so many new friends when you join Greek life, especially when you're an outgoing person such as myself. I do, however, have a few concerns when it comes to recruitment at my (very small) school. So here is a letter to all of the girls I'm already friends with, either from childhood, high school, college, or church, that are planning on joining a sorority in the fall.

Congrats on deciding to go Greek! It takes a lot more work for us to get people to look past Greek stereotypes than you’d think, let alone decide to join. But once girls realize that sororities are nothing like the movies, that’s when the magic begins. Get ready to make a hundred new friends, spend all your money on eating out, and be a part of events planned so well to the T, you’d think it was a little league game.

My first thought, like any sophomore in a sorority, when anyone tells me they’re going through recruitment is, "Oh my god you could be my little!" That’s worth another letter all in itself. Being friends outside of Greek life is one thing, but being a sister at a small school is completely different. The idea that I could possibly get to watch as you get a bid and run to me on bid day, be your big, and watch you grow as a sister is dream-worthy. I can’t wait. *insert super girly scream here*

However, and listen closely here, don’t think that already being my friend requires you to join my sorority. For one thing, I am not the deciding factor on whether you get a bid. Recruitment uses a matching system involving everyone in Greek life. And secondly, you might just fit in better with a different group of sisters. And that's okay. There are lots of great chapters to choose from, and recruitment is all about figuring out which one is your home away from home. I will love you regardless of what sorority you choose. Will I be bummed if you aren’t my sister? Probably. But just imagine the amazing events we could plan together. Sorority mixers, philanthropy events and future recruitments are already fun. You can be best friends with more than just your chapter. NPC sista love!

More important than which chapter you choose, make sure you really want this. Hearing me talk about my sorority and what I get out of it is great. Really, I love when people actually listen to me. But don’t expect your experience to be the same. You will have different girls recruiting you, different council (or exec board) members, and different girls coming in with you. So make sure you figure out what you want, and what each chapter can offer you, not just what it gave me. Because the worst thing you could do to a group of girls who welcomed you in with open arms and shared their secrets with you is to decide you “just aren’t feeling it anymore.” If you’re only looking for parties and a set of letters, you may want to think again.

Don’t forget that joining a sorority is a huge commitment. These organizations are built to make men and women out of boys and girls. For that to work, you have to be willing to pay dues on time, sacrifice some social time for mandatory events, and sometimes get along with people you don’t like. Any growing pains that you may feel should just remind you why you joined in the first place.

These growing pains are well worth it when you realize that your sorority will change you for the better. It will be the reason you held your tongue when your boss was rude to you, why you made sure that girl you had class with once got home safely, why you could discipline your baby cousin with words of kindness instead of anger, and why you weren’t afraid to give that speech. So go through recruitment. You will see pride in every girl’s walk. It’s because these girls care fiercely about their sisters and their chapter’s philanthropy. You’ll see the passion in their eyes, and it just might intimidate you, but it's the whole reason you should join.

So to all my current friends going Greek, I’ll leave you with a phrase I’ve heard many times:

You get out twice what you put in, so put your whole heart into it.