When many people think of sororities, their minds usually think of the stereotypical party scenes depicted in movies like The House Bunny or Legally Blonde. Images of superficial party girls living in a huge house also comes to mind. Many people are not even sure what goes on in sororities or why they even exist. Then, there are the negative associations that come with what goes on during sorority recruitment. Hazing horror stories and rumors of frightening requirements to get a bid have been going around college campuses for years. So you may ask yourself, why would anyone want to participate in this time consuming recruitment week to join one of these groups? The answer is simple: the horrible rumors about sororities simply are not true, and joining a sorority is actually one of the most amazingly life changing experiences that a college student can make.

People at my college who are involved in Greek life always made it clear to me that rush week is an exciting opportunity to join an organization full of women that value similar things in life that you do. It was always made clear that hazing is illegal and is never involved in sorority recruitment. So, I decided to participate in rush week and I do not regret the decision for a second. The whole week allows the potential new members to get to know what the sororities on campus are like, which one is right for them and allows the sororities themselves to decide which girls fit into their organization best. Talking to the women in sororities felt natural -- it was like talking to friends. All of the sorority women were so kind and welcoming towards me. I honestly could not believe how wonderful everyone was and I felt honored to be invited back for every night of recruitment.

Deciding which sorority was best for me was difficult. My two favorites were full of inspiring women who made me want to be a better person. Both of them also supported many important charities and causes that all of the women were clearly passionate about. However, I did have a gut feeling during the entire week that caused me to rank Delta Phi Epsilon as my first choice. Luckily, I ended up getting a bid from them and I happily accepted it!

Deciding to participate in rush week at my school has already changed my life forever, because it led to me finding my home in Delta Phi Epsilon. The women in this sorority are now my sisters for life and I know that I will always have their support. I love the girls that I went through recruitment with and I can now call many of them my friends. The women in my sorority have welcomed me with open arms and I cannot wait to spend even more time with them talking, laughing and supporting charities that are close to our hearts in the years to come. These women inspire me to be a better person and I love getting to know them. It is truly amazing how much my life has changed for the better in just one week's time, all because of the this rush week process that has led me to my home.