Last summer, as I was packing up my room and preparing myself for the big move to Baton Rouge, I was absolutely sure of one thing: in college, I wanted to branch out. I had seen so many of my older friends go off to college and stick with their hometown cliques, and it confused me as to how this didn’t bother them. Didn’t they feel like they were missing out? Didn’t they want to meet new people? Isn’t college about discovering yourself? It seemed unlikely that any sort of discovery could have occurred if the people around them had remained the exact same.

Now don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love my high school friends, and I’ll cherish the memories I made with them forever. However, I went into college knowing that I did not want my next four years to be a repeat of high school. College, especially LSU, is such a huge place and it offers the opportunity to meet such a wide range of people. Failing to take advantage of that is such a wasted opportunity.

This desire to not repeat high school is what, ultimately, led me to choose a sorority that did not have that many girls from my high school. And I can only begin to explain how glad I am that I did.

Let me start by stating that at first, on bid day, I found myself regretting my decision. Being surrounded by tons of girls whom I didn’t know was awkward, and I couldn’t help thinking that I could be with all of my old friends. However, I took this awkwardness as a sign that I had succeeded in leaving my comfort zone, and I hoped that in the months to come I would grow increasingly confident in my decision.

In the months to come, not only was I glad I did something different, I was thrilled that I did something different. Being in a sorority with girls that I didn’t know forced me to talk to random people, and I can promise you that nothing brings girls together closer, or faster, than exchanges, weekly meetings, and even an overnight chapter retreat in the woods.

Before I knew it, I had an entirely new, amazing, and unique group of friends. Friends that defined my freshmen year, and friends that will define my next three years. Friends that joined me in spontaneous trips to Yogurtland, New Orleans, and even my hometown. Friends that I can laugh with, breakdown with, and have life talks with. Friends that have caused me to look at life a bit differently, and it scares me to think that I came so close to not knowing them.

Remaining in my comfort zone would have resulted in a less awkward bid day, but also a less fruitful year.