They say college is what you make of it.

You are thrown into a situation where everything is new. You are surrounded by new people every day, and it is the first time you are able to make decisions truly on your own. One of the first big decisions I made on my own was to be apart of the 2017 Fall Recruitment class, and I have not looked back since.

Let me tell you now, I could not be paid to go through recruitment again.

It was bad, like, really bad. Running up and down Milledge in a dress and heels takes a toll on you after a day or two! Now to be completely fair, my experience might be a little jaded considering it poured down rain literally every single day; and during the brief moments, the rain cleared the humidity was enough to probably kill you. But seriously, during a time when you try to make everything about yourself perfect to meet random girls who could potentially become your sisters for life, rain was totally a buzz kill. Now on the lighter side of recruitment, you get to meet hundreds of girls! Which is the exact reason I decided to rush. Going into such a big university I wanted to find a smaller group of individuals I could get close with and create life-long friendships with. And a sorority seemed like the perfect place for that.

After what felt like the longest 7 days of my life and hearing “trust the process” about a million times I found my home with Gamma Phi Beta.

I have never been more confident in a decision than I was when I decided that was where I belonged. Instantly on bid day I was meeting more people than I could remember and was already having a great time, and that was just the first night. 6 months later I love it just as much as I did that first night.

Being in a sorority as offered me everything I could have imagined and more! It has given me that group of people I was looking for, and opened up so many doors for me beyond the new friendships I have created. I understand that Greek life is not right for everyone coming into college and I completely respect that, but for me it was the perfect opportunity I had been searching for.

Being associated with Greek life often comes with many negative stereotypes about how I am “paying for friends” and how I am “just there to party," but that is not the case.

Yes, I do pay dues; however, personally that is insignificant to everything Gamma Phi has given me.

I have met some of my best friends through my sorority had have been given a build in support system of around 300 girls and to me that is something money could never buy.