A lot of people seem surprised when I tell them that I'm in a sorority. I guess it's not something that most people would expect me to do. They probably always think, how is this quiet and sweet girl possibly in a sorority or they think that it's not for me. People always judge sororities based off of what the see on TV and in movies or in the media. They don't take into account that their opinions or ideas about sororities may be fabricated because of what they see and hear about them. It gets a little annoying when people have these stereotypes about something and judge it especially when it has been an incredible experience for me.

To tell the truth, I was a little hesitant about joining a sorority at first. I have always been a little quiet and on the more introverted side. In high school, I was used to having a small class and school where I knew almost everyone and had my niche where I fit in. When I first got to college it was a little harder for me to find where I belong, especially because I am not the most outgoing person and many of the clubs and activities at Villanova can be competitive to get into. When the beginning of the second semester of Freshman year came around, I decided that I wanted to rush. I had made a few close friends during my first semester at school, but i definitely wanted to meet more people and get involved in more. I thought that joining a sorority would be a great way to do that.

The whole process of rush was not the most enjoyable, and I'll admit, it does seem a little superficial like you would think. Part of me was thinking, how can these girls judge me from just a 5 minute conversation? In a way, it was like I was going on dates to try and impress these girls. During the whole process I decided that I needed to stop worrying so much because I knew I would end up with people who liked me for me, whether it was in a sorority or not. Now, I couldn't be happier with where I ended up. Like anything I get involved with or anyone I become friends with, it takes me a little time to warm up and become completely comfortable. But now I can truly say that my sorority is like a second home to me.

I have met some of my closest friends through my sorority who I probably wouldn't have met otherwise. Through my sorority, I have also been able to get more involved in service and other activities that I hadn't been able to get as involved in as I would have liked since being at college. There are so many opportunities that come with being in a sorority. I love that we have so many events like promoting our philanthropy, having movie nights, going to formals, or taking trips to somewhere off campus. I have really started to come out of my shell and be more outgoing since joining a sorority. As cheesy as it may sound, I can always count on these girls for anything. Whether it's having dinner with my fam after a stressful week of classes, being able to vent about what's going on in my life, having someone to study with, or even just a friendly hi or a hug when I see one of them on campus. The friendships and memories that I have made so far with these girls will last a lifetime.