In the fall of 2017, I started my freshman year of college here at Bowling Green State University. I was nervous, sure, just like every other kid out there is when stepping foot into this entirely new world, but I was looking forward to starting this new adventure and making memories of a lifetime. I thought I would go to school, make a billion friends somehow, and it would be all glitz and glamor and funny stories to tell.

It didn't exactly happen like that.

I made friends, and good ones at that, but I wasn't exactly having the time of my life that I expected. I was often lonely, going to dinner by myself some days, and getting overwhelmed by the abundance of homework I seemed to constantly be doing. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't entirely bad and I definitely wasn't completely hating it. It was just kind of eh.

Before school started, my cousin told me about a group she had joined at her university, CHAARG, that she absolutely loved, and that I should join the chapter at my school, too. It was a women's fitness and health group, and had ideals of female empowerment and lifting up both weights and other women. I was never really into physical activity, but I was definitely a fan of the whole women-supporting-women aspects. My cousin had met some of her closest friends from joining, and I knew that in order to enjoy myself at college I'd need to be involved, so I took her advice and signed up. I went in completely unsure what to expect, but I absolutely am so glad that I made the decision to join because it is the reason that completely turned around my first semester at college.

Fast forward to November. I had attended every CHAARG studio spotlight event throughout the semester (where we meet on Thursday nights to participate in fitness classes taught by local studios and things like that) and I definitely enjoyed myself, and even made a really great friend (shoutout to my girl Bri--you rock), but I felt like I didn't really fit in. Then I attended our group retreat, and I have never been the same since, as dramatic as it sounds.

It was freezing cold that weekend, but being with and getting to know 40+ wonderful women was an experience that not even the weather could put a damper on that feeling. The theme was "purpose over perfect" and that really hit home. We ate together, we worked out together, we goofed off together.

It was an environment of completely love, respect, and empowerment, and I had never felt like I belonged more. As the weekend went on, I felt so comforted by the fact that this single organization could bring together so many amazing, unique people who I knew I could rely on, even if we barely knew each other.

On Sunday, we all went around and shared our stories and journeys. As it turns out, almost every single girl I had assumed just immediately clicked with the organization had once felt the same way I'd felt all semester: out of the loop and longing to be apart of the "club." It's hard to describe how it felt to realize that I wasn't alone, nor would I ever be. I've never cried so much in a single weekend, which was extremely cathartic and honestly not as awful as it sounds because about 40 other faces around me were tear-stained as well.

From that weekend and on, CHAARG has held a special place in my heart. I have so many awesome, inspiring role models in my fellow members and our fantastic exec team. Every Thursday night is something I look forward to, and my relationship with myself and my body has changed tremendously for the better.

If you're a girl, you're looking for something to join, and your school has a chapter, join CHAARG. You won't regret it. I certainly don't.

For more info, go to https://chaarg.com/