I have always been different, not weird, but different. My parents always told me I was mature for my age, which was a blessing and a curse.

When I transferred to Temple, I made some good friends, but part of me felt like I was not involved enough.

That's when I started to look into Sorority life. All of my childhood friends told me I would never fit in. I was “me", and they were right. I tried to ignore it and go in with an open mind. I paid the twenty dollars to make a profile. I talked about my interests, grades, activities, the basics. I then had to submit a picture of myself. I saw that as a red flag.

Would a picture of me really determine what sorority would want me as a member? It took me hours to find a picture that made me look “normal."

After a few days, recruitment was getting closer. I grew nervous, wondering what I was getting myself in to. A few of my friends made remarks such as “why would you pay for your friends?" I tried to say that there was not more to it. Which, I am sure there was, but I had no idea.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized why I, Mia wanted to join, not why the other girls wanted to join.

I couldn't think of a solid reason besides cute pictures and formals. As recruitment approached, I got a text that made me back out.

“Hi, this is____, your Rho Gamma! I'm so excited to meet you all! Submit your name, year, and what you're wearing Thursday."

What I'm wearing? What a joke. I pride myself on owning nice clothes, but there's more to me than that. I couldn't help but feel instantly judged by this girl's request.

I sat there for a few minutes, typing and erasing my name and year. I rooted through my closet, and I looked at myself in the mirror. I told myself I was “weird" and decided I was not going to go to recruitment at all. I had a plethora of excuses as to why I was not going to do it, but the real reason was my self-esteem.

I did not want to pay dues to be the odd man out. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that my four best friends have stood by me for free; they are irreplaceable. None of the girls in my sorority would be my lifetime friends.

Sure, you can say “you never know until you try," but I realized months later that I have all the people I need in my life. I will be nice to anyone, but there's absolutely no reason to pay for temporary friendships.