It's no secret that people can be mean. In this world people live for gossip and drama. For whatever reason, some people thrive by watching others fall. This is mainly seen in high-school. I have always known this isn't how it is supposed to be. There is no reason that watching someone else hurt should bring me joy, but not everyone sees things this way. High school was hands down the hardest four years of my life. No doubt. Thankfully, high school isn't forever. I know it's so cliche to say, but high school drama doesn't matter. Whatever those two girls were laughing at you for yesterday during Biology class won't actually matter in the grand scheme of things, but I also know that doesn't necessarily help the pain you feel at that moment. And that is okay. You are allowed to hurt. You are not allowed to let it mess with your future.

During high school I wasn't the most outgoing person. I was scared to put myself out there. I didn't want to run for things or draw that much attention to myself because I was scared of what people would say. Would they laugh at me for wanting to be on Student Council? Or worse...would all my classmates laugh if I actually did campaign for something and I lost? Would I be a failure? High school made me scared to be myself. High school made me question my self worth. As dumb as this might sound, sometimes I would even get scared to tweet things because what if no one retweeted it? What if people read it and thought I was dumb? The bottom line was high school made me hide who I really am.

Fast forward through all those years of trying to please others and here I am at MSU, joining various clubs, making friends with strangers, and writing online articles for all to read. Here I am putting myself out there and I couldn't be happier. And why is this? Well that's because I have the best support group sisters in the world. I never pictured myself as the sorority type. I'm not going to lie; I believed all the stereotypes about sorority girls and I have NEVER been more wrong. During rush week, I started out trying to be something I wasn't. Just like I did all in high school. I wanted to impress these girls. I want them to like me, right? But what I wasn't understanding was that these girls were trying to get to know me. They didn't want me to try and impress them at all; they wanted the real me. I finally realized this when I was walking out of a party and I tripped and fell and almost hit my face flat on the concrete. This happened right in front of every member of this house (including the president), Panhellenic executives, as well as other rushees. I was mortified. I just knew when I woke up the next day they wouldn't be on my schedule. Why would they want me? I tripped and made a fool of myself for all to see. Long story short, this is now the lovely place I call home.

These girls didn't care that I tripped and fell and looked like an idiot. These girls didn't care what I was wearing. These girls cared about me. The real me. I cannot even describe the amount of love I feel whenever I walk into the Tri Delta house. Just the fact that girls cared to remember my name made me feel loved and wanted. These girls notice me. I'm not just another face in the crowd to them; they care about me and my wellbeing. I have only been a part of Tri Delta for a few weeks and I can honestly tell you I have never been happier. I have people who go out of their way to check on me. They keep me in line. They push me out of my comfort zone and make me try out for new things. They make me put myself out there. They let me be my weird self!! These beautiful women wanted me because they saw my worth before I could even see it.

So my message to all of you out there worrying about not being good enough, worrying about what people will think if you don't wear makeup, worrying about being the real you and not being accepted: find yourself a place where you feel welcome. There are people and places for everyone and I am lucky enough to have found my place.

Also, a message to all of my sisters in Delta Delta Delta: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for accepting me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for noticing me. I will forever owe each and every one of you. I love you all.