So you want to go through recruitment?

You've been creeping the #vcufr15 tag days on end. Falling in love with all the pretty, "candid" photos, the cute shirts and how happy the girls look, and you decide you want that to be your life. You want to be on the other side, laughing with friends and living college to the fullest. Or you join because you're bored and need something to fill your time. Or you want to join for the other countless number of reasons possible. So you go online and register and you anxiously await recruitment weekend.

Like many other sorority women, I get asked time after time "soooo, why did you join Alpha Sigma Alpha?" But I personally think the reason isn't useful information whatsoever. What's important isn't why you joined, but why you stayed.

I stayed because I know my sisters are always there for me. I remember hearing soul-crushing news at breakfast one morning and trying to fake it and keep it all together until my sisters noticed something was up and confronted me. I spent the rest of the morning sobbing into their laps. This was one of many moments I felt the raw yet beautiful nature of sisterhood. They have been there for both my highs and lows and have loved me unconditionally -- something I never thought possible.

I stayed because being in a sorority has opened doors for me I never even noticed. Being a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha is a way to network. My sisters clued me in to job openings and have recommended me to employers. It has also given me leadership opportunities that not only jazz up my resume but also have given me more confidence so that I can talk in a public setting.

I stayed because I became the best version of me. By remembering I'm always wearing letters, I have become more loving, kind hearted and friendly. Not only am I representing myself, but I'm representing an organization. So I feel like I'm always conscious of my behavior, keeping my smile and helping others as much as possible.

I stayed because my GPA went up. I always have sisters who are willing to live at the library, and older sisters are more than willing to help out with a difficult course they already took. Not only that, all sororities have a GPA requirement that ensures that school always comes first.

I stayed because it made VCU a lot smaller. College is very large and it's nice having a tight-knit community where everyone is diverse and has different special interests. I met some people from all different backgrounds that I might have never met if I didn't go through recruitment. Coming from all different cultures and upbringings, my sisters are uniquely beautiful in their own special way. They have taught me so much.

I stayed because it was a great way to give back to the community. I have been blessed with so much and being a sorority has helped me to help others in need. At the heart of every sorority is a proudly represented national philanthropy, and their goal is to raise money for that organization. Each philanthropy is represented by the same sorority or fraternity nationwide, so it's easy to see how you're truly making a difference.

So if you're even thinking about recruitment, this is your sign. Do it. Recruitment was the best decision I ever made and I urge you to find your home away from home. I know it may sound clichéd, but the term is completely and utterly true. It's always better to regret doing something rather regretting to not doing it.