When I came to college freshman year, I was beyond excited to start the newest chapter of my life. I had just spent the past four years of my life hating high school, my hometown, and wanting nothing more than to leave. I had visions of making instant friends, excelling effortlessly in all my classes, and living a college experience straight from a movie. Well, that was all fine and dandy, that is until welcome week ended and reality set in.

I purposefully picked a college where barely anyone from my high school went. My plan was to leave that part of my life far behind me after graduation. However, I soon realized that this decision was only going to make my adjustment to college more difficult. For about a month, the only people I hung out with were my roommate and one other girl who lived on my floor. On top of that, I was overwhelmed with the difference in workload between high school and college.

I used to call my mom almost every night, crying and begging to transfer to a state school. She would try to convince me that I just needed to give it more time and allow myself to adjust. I had considered Greek life during the summer, but didn't think it would be something for me. My sister was in a sorority and seemed to enjoy it, but I wasn't sure the time commitment and financial obligation was something I wanted to commit myself to. However, at this point I was so exasperated with trying to adjust that when a girl on my floor suggested I go through recruitment, I thought hey what do I have to lose.

So I signed up for recruitment and headed to the orientation a few days later. I was still on the fence about the whole thing, but I figured I already paid the registration, so going through actual recruitment couldn't be that bad. At the very least, I would get a T-shirt out of it and hopefully meet some new people over the course of the weekend.

Recruitment was nothing like I had in mind. It was so intimidating walking into the rooms on the first night. Spending a half an hour flirting, nervously sipping on an airplane cup of lemonade, while silently wondering if the sorority member you were sitting with thought you were weird or trying too hard. As the night came to a close, I thought I knew for certain where I wanted to go. Then the next morning came, and I was heartbroken that I wasn't called back to the sorority I thought for sure I had a great connection with. While the other girls in my Pi Chi group gave shouts of glee that they were going back to where they wanted, I silently wondered if it was even worth it for me to continue recruitment.

I did continue, though, and at the end of one of the most stressful weekends of my freshman year, I ran home to Kappa Delta. I was still unsure if Greek life was going to be for me, but I was quickly proved wrong. On Bid Day night, my future Big ran up to me and proclaimed how she was so excited I had been in "Legally Blonde the Musical," because she was obsessed with the music from the show. When I looked around and saw all the love among my now sisters, I knew I made the right decision.

As freshman year went on, I went through several ups and downs. However, there was never a problem I was having that there wasn't a sister there for me to lean on. If I needed someone to eat with, homework help, or just someone to vent to, there was always a sister there. Often times, people say that everyone in Greek life "pays for their friends." Well, I can honestly say all my sisters are more than friends, and I didn't pay for them, either. My sisters are my support system, my future bridesmaids, my endless source of laughter, and women who are going to change the world one day.

Kappa Delta has brought out the best in me. Helping to promote confidence in others through work in our philanthropies has helped bring out the confidence in me. I've opened my eyes to so many different aspects of the world through service in my sorority. If someone would have told me two years ago that I would be where I am today, I never would have believed them.

Kappa Delta is the reason that I never ended up transferring the second semester of freshman year. Kappa Delta is the reason I am a strong, confident woman who strives to help others see that in themselves. When I look back on my four years of college, no doubt in my mind my best memories will involve KD or someone I met through it. As I prepare to welcome my Little into my family in just a little over a week, it makes me look back on how far I have come in just a year. I truly owe it all to the on-the-whim decision I made that Sunday night freshman year to go through recruitment.

People may say that Greek life is just for parties and social engagement, but those people don't truly understand how much it means to members of it. Greek life changed and saved my life.

A thousand white roses to Kappa Delta—no words can express how grateful I am to have found you.