I want to begin by saying that I was always one of those girls who never envisioned herself as the "type" to join a sorority (whatever that means). Neither of my parents were involved in Greek life, and my older brother and sister both attended a small college without a Greek community. Pink was never my favorite color, my personality was never particularly bubbly, and I played sports rather than joining the cheer team. I never had a problem with girls who did fit into that category; I just considered myself different.

I'll be the first to admit that at first, I bought into the stereotypes that surround Greek life. All through high school I claimed I would never join a sorority. "I could never handle being surrounded by that many girls 24/7. It's just not me," I would say. I remember reading certain articles on Total Frat Move and Total Sorority Move and seeing certain television shows like "Greek" and having the stereotypes reinforced in my mind.

I don't remember what exactly changed my mind, but freshman year of college came around, and I decided to sign up for fall recruitment. Maybe it was seeing my older friends go Greek and absolutely loving it that changed my mind, or maybe it was the appeal of being exposed to entirely new people (the complete opposite of my small hometown). Either way, I put myself out of my comfort zone and joined a sorority, and my experience in Greek life has been nothing like I ever imagined it would be. It has given me far more than I ever expected to gain from it. Now that I can call myself a member of the Greek community, I see clearly the reality of what being Greek is really all about. And I find myself defending my letters and the community as a whole in a way I never thought I would.

When I hear people bashing Greek life, I am filled with a mix of anger, understanding, and pity all at the same time. Anger because someone who usually has no first-hand experience of being a member of a Greek organization is speaking poorly of something they have no way of really understanding. Understanding because one upon a time I was that person. Pity because unless these closed-minded people attempt to look past their opinions, they will never get the chance to have an amazing experience like the one I have had.

I see these people throwing their opinions on Greek life out left and right. One day a few months ago, my dad called me up sounding extremely concerned. He told me that a coworker of his had told him some extremely negative things about Greek life, and that he didn't want me to be associated with "that kind of thing." When I asked him what this person had said, I was not surprised in the slightest to learn that they had told him that "all sororities and fraternities care about are getting drunk and partying." So I asked my dad, "Did this person mention anything about the millions and millions of dollars Greek organizations raise for a variety of charities annually? What about the innumerable hours of community service? Or the leadership opportunities?" His response, of course, was no.

Why are the most important aspects of Greek life so commonly overlooked? While I will not lie and deny that within each organization there will be people who choose to partake in certain extracurricular activities more than others, it is important to remember that each person is an individual. While some may choose to do this, many will choose other paths. Everyone is different. That's one of the things I love most about being in a sorority.

My chapter has given me the confidence to put myself out of my comfort zone. It has given me something to be a part of and something to be proud of. It has led me to some of the most genuine people that I can honestly call my best friends. The people I cry to when I've had a bad day, the people I laugh with the hardest, and the people I trust with my life who I know will be by my side far longer than these four years of college. It has given me a philanthropy to be passionate about. It has made me a better person through the many service opportunities.

So, if you're like the old me and buy into the stereotypes, or criticize the values of Greek organizations, or constantly make snarky comments about "sorority girls" or "frat boys," I'm asking you to open your mind. I'm not asking you to go out and join a sorority or fraternity, but try to consider the big picture. You might be surprised with what you find.