In 2012 I came to Bowling Green State University after attending a community college for a year. I was nervous to come to large university and nervous to start over. I left all my friends back home and my best friend, my mother, moved 2 hours away. I was determined to get involved on campus and make new friends but I wasn’t sure how to start. So, I joined the BG News as a student photographer and one of my assignments was to take photos of open recruitment in the fall. That was the first time I went to the lovely Gamma Phi Beta house. My goal was just to get a couple photos of the girls hanging out, I didn’t plan to stay there for three hours, have them convince me to go through recruitment and leave with left over food. That was the start of a new journey that would end up being one of the best decisions of my college career.

I wasn’t sure about the whole sorority thing because I didn’t have a lot of girlfriends in high school nor did I get along with girls at all. I wasn't into the whole girly girl thing, I played Xbox and listened to Rock n' Roll and that 'screamo' 'emo' stuff in high school and didn't wear pink or bright colors. But I went for it anyway.

The next 3 years were full of sisterhood, philanthropy, the importance of education, the wonderful crescent moon. There were always ups and downs in the chapter just like every chapter, but Gamma Phi Beta gave me more than the experience of a being a sorority woman, it gave me lifetime friendships. My twin, Katie, quickly became one of my best friends and when we lived in the house together we became close. She was one of my first roommates in my big girl apartment. The chapter also gave me Lauren. She was one of the most brutally honest people I knew and living in the house with her as well brought us close. She was my other roommate in my first apartment. They became the two people in my life I told everything to and shared just about everything with. The chapter also brought Stephanie into my life and I'm so happy she's still in my life. If I share a personality and lifestyle with anyone it was her. We were two peas in a pod and we're still super close.

In spring 2015 Gamma Phi Beta left the campus and my two roommates graduated. I felt alone and without purpose. After all that happened one of my friends, Corinne, who was in Alpha Phi Omega tried to convince me all summer to join. So after all of that convincing in the fall of 2015 I joined Alpha Phi Omega. Now, I was on Corinne's core committee for Dance Marathon the previous semester and we became really close so going in she was the only one I knew. Little did I know that Alpha Phi Omega was going to introduce me to TONS of men and women, I mean I knew the chapter was big but dang. This chapter introduced to me to so many wonderful people who I have many different things in common with.

I met my now best friend Cassidy in fall 2015 when we pledged together, and she quickly became my best friend. I knew I was in the right place when I met her. How often do you find someone who is pretty much exactly like you? Someone who shares the same past emo phase in high school, same taste in music and someone who just understands you without saying any words. I knew I had found a friend for life, all thanks to Alpha Phi Omega. Then I met Madison. We're kind of opposite but we get along better than anyone. Over the past year Madison and I became so much closer and it became clear that our personalities are pretty much the same. Madison is one of the only people in my life I trust and would tell anything to. Now, who knew that the girl who never got along with girls would end up with a bunch of best friends who are girls?!

Greek life gave me so many memories and friendships. Without Greek life I don't think I would have had such a great college career. This is my victory lap at BG and for all 5 years I've been a part of some sort of Greek organization. The saying is true; it's not four years, it's for life. College is the best time to get involved with organizations. Not only does it look great on resumes, but if you're as lucky as me, you'll gain lifetime friendships.