Now I already know people have rolled their eyes from the title. "Oh wow, another sorority girl. She pays for her friends and does 'service' in exchange for partying". Believe me, I've heard it all when it comes to sororities. Yes, I pay dues. Yes, I've had my share of date functions and events through my sorority. But that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what my college experience in a sorority has been.

I rushed Delta Nu Zeta, a service sorority at the University of Florida, in the fall of my sophomore year. At this point in my life, I had been lost. I hadn't had very many friends my freshman year. I had battled mental health problems, and I didn't know where my place in this college, let alone the world. My best friend and roommate, Jasmine, had rushed the spring of our freshman year, and I knew about all of the friends she had made through the sorority. I also knew that it was an organization that was centered around helping the community around UF. I figured that this organization was the best fit for what I was looking for: a way to get involved and a way to make friends. What I got in return was so much more.

My sorority has given me a sisterhood that I never thought imaginable. I have met the strongest, headstrong, beautiful women, and I probably would have never crossed paths with them if it wasn't for the opportunities I have been given with DNZ. I have learned the impact that our organization has on the community, and I have learned how much power even a single person has when making a difference in the world around us. We have nursing majors, poli-sci majors, education majors (can I get a whoop whoop), journalism majors, telecom majors, and soooooo many more. All of us come from different walks of life, and we each bring our own mindset and set of opinions about the world into our organization. It is through these women that I have been given a chance to see the world through many different lenses.

I have also found that I can do so much good for my community. I have been able to work with so many different organizations through DNZ. I have been able to work with Helping Hands Pet Rescue, Rooterville Farm and Animal Sanctuary, Havens Hospice, the Ronald McDonald House, and so many others. I have been exposed to ways in which I can help others that I never thought were possible. And while I have given my time, I have been given so much more from these organizations. I have learned the impact that one person has on the world and how much good a single person can do. So while I may not be in my sorority forever, I will always carry with me the ideals of helping others because it has been instilled in me through my time in DNZ.

So yes, while it may be cliche to say, my sorority has made my time in college. Not for the tailgates, not for the parties, not for the functions. Through Delta Nu Zeta, I have gained sisters who I know will have my back until the very end. I have gained friends for life, bridesmaids when I find my Mr. Right and a support system like no other. Because if you've never seen 150+ girls hug and support one another, it's really a sight to see. So thank you to all of my sisters and to Delta Nu Zeta. You took a girl who was lost in the world and turned her into a strong, independent, strong-willed young woman. I love all you Foxy Ladies!