"So...why do they use Greek letters?" I distinctly remember my dad asking me when I first introduced sorority life to my parents.

I, being a new member at the time, stood there for a second and realized I didn't have a solid answer. "They just...do," I responded lamely. What did I get myself into? I asked myself the night of Bid Day. I had no idea what sorority life would bring and because no one in my family ever went Greek, it was hard to bring my parents on board. All I knew is that I was unbelievably excited to be a part of this mysterious, new environment.

"I just want to try this out," I remember telling various people who were taken aback when they heard I went Greek. And I'll be the first to admit I never would have pictured myself going Greek. Part of that stemmed from a complete lack of knowledge about it. All I knew came from the media, and you don't have to be a film analyst to know they aren't positive portrayals.

"But you're paying for friends."

"It looks like a waste of time to me."

"They just party all the time, though."

Believe it or not, just because you personally don't see tangible value doesn't mean that there isn't value. Just because you don't understand something, doesn't mean that there is no point. And that applies to nearly everything in life, not just Greek life.

So let's clear this up: I am not paying for friends. The dues I pay help fund a variety of things like our chapter events and maintaining the chapter facility. I am not paying a fee to make friends. A huge misconception in becoming a member is that you just decide to join, pay dues and bam, you're in. What people don't realize about sorority life is that it's a mutual selection process. That is, each sorority has its own specific set of values and standards it expects each woman to strive for. If a woman is interested in potentially joining, the chapter tries to get to know her and see if she'd be a good fit. Simultaneously, the woman sees if her values align with the chapter's. So when a woman joins a sorority, it's not just because she wants to, it's because both sides "matched up," so to speak. I'm not paying for my friends. I was selected to join a group of women who understand me and push me to better myself. So naturally I'm going to get along with them.

It's not a waste of time. Just like any other student organization, you have to give up some of your time to be a part of it. And you get what you put in. One thing about sororities that people don't seem to understand is that you can't compare them to any other student organization. Most other organizations don't have the history Greek chapters do. Most of them don't have a set of values and standards that make them unique. Most of them aren't relevant to your life past your collegiate years or your collegiate resume. There, I said it. If there was no value to sorority life past the college years, why in the world would there be hundreds of active alumni associations nationwide? It's a life-long sisterhood, not a casual club.

I think part of the reason why people are so apprehensive about Greek life is because they only hear the bad. They're only shown the stereotypical and they're left to believe what they're shown because as a whole, we don't adequately demonstrate otherwise. That's not to say I'm turning a blind eye to the negative things that do occur. I'm well aware of what happens on some college campuses, but you have to believe me when I say that doesn't accurately represent Greek life. And it's not just or fair to generalize the entire system for the misrepresentation of a few (doesn't that phrase ring a bell in light of current events?). Greek environments differ greatly from campus to campus. So to completely discredit the communities that work tirelessly to disprove the stereotypes is unbelievably exasperating.

But you also have to think about how we, as Greek members, talk about our experiences. How many articles circulating online say, "I love being Greek because of reasons x, y and z?" Plenty. But how many of them truly differentiate between "a fun club you pay for" and an organization that strives to shape collegiate members and provide a lifetime of support?

And that's what people don't see or hear about: the networking, the financial support, the academic standards, the alumni years, why it all matters. There is so much that happens within a chapter that isn't discussed because the focus is always on what is outwardly displayed.

Half of my wardrobe has Greek letters on it because I'm proud to be a part of an organization that began in the 1800s as an academic support group for women in college. I take an obnoxious amount of photos during recruitment because I'm excited to share my sisterhood with others. I dedicate time to my sorority because my sisters are important to me and I know I'm important to them. I write about Greek life because there is still such a large gap between those who are in a chapter and understand, and those who aren't and don't.

I was the first person in my family to go Greek (and stay) because I saw the value no one told me about. I have been presented with scholarships, opportunities to travel, chances to develop as a leader, incredible learning experiences and the love and support comparable to that of a family. No one tells you about that. So allow me to be the first to tell you:

You can't find that anywhere else.