Ever just disliked a girl because she is pretty, smart and everyone loves her – don't lie ladies, we all do it. I don't know how it started or why it did, but when you're a teenage girl, your biggest competition is other teenage girls. Any girl that isn't your friend, you dislike. It is one of the most unfortunate parts about being a young woman. It makes me so sad I spent so many years disliking other women because I was jealous or felt so competitive toward them. I would compete with girls for boys, for popularity, for the best grades – pretty much anything you could be competitive on, I was.

Now that I have gotten older I realize that other women are not your competition; they are your confidants, your inspirations, your role models. Ever since joining a sorority my entire outlook has changed. You would think surrounding myself with 300 other women would make me even more competitive, but it has done just the opposite.

I look up to my peers more than ever now. They are smart, powerful, beautiful women that I strive to be like every day. Joining the sisterhood of my sorority has changed my views on the women around me. It is stupid to constantly compare yourself to them and try to outdo them. Focus on yourself and push them to be the best they can be. They are not your competition, they are your source of encouragement.

Women should build each other up, not bring each other down. There should not be competition between us; there should be empowerment. Since I have gone to college and have joined a sorority, I have a totally new view on girl power. There is no reason to bring other women down. We are women. We are so much better than that. Imagine a world where we all empowered each other – we would rule the world. Because who runs the world? Girls. Am I right, Beyonce?