When people think of sorority girls, they often think of glitter wearing, frat befriending, big t-shirt wearing girls who spend most of their time socializing.

Today's pop culture sheds Greek life in a particular light, and it is sometimes difficult for people to see beyond the acting portrayed in "Legally Blonde," "House Bunny," and "Neighbors." However, being a sorority woman is more than bid days, date parties, and countless Comfort Colors t-shirts. It is an organization that prides itself on philanthropy, sisterhood, and becoming the best version of yourself.

Ever since the age of 14, I knew I wanted to be in a sorority. My oldest cousin had gone through formal recruitment, and as a result I spent the next four years looking at pictures of her having fun with her sisters, hearing about her latest philanthropy event, and wishing I was old enough to experience it for myself.

In my eyes, being in a sorority meant having a group of women who were always there for you. It was a group of women who would push you to be your best, who would be your shoulder to cry on, and who would be your family while you were away at college. I wanted to be a part of something that was greater than myself, and I knew that joining a sorority could help make me the woman I envisioned myself to be.

Now that I am one year into my college education, I know that I would not have had the experience I did if it had not been for my sisters. Because of the support from my sorority, I had the confidence to tackle any problem I had encountered. I walked into every exam knowing I had a team of girls cheering me on, and I knew that the hours I spent studying with them would lead me to be successful.

I knew I had over 100 shoulders to cry on when I was missing my family, and that I had a plethora of doctors if I so much as sneezed. There was always someone nearby if I needed a coffee run, a lunch buddy, or late-night Whataburger. It seemed I could not go anywhere without seeing another girl wearing my letters, and I could not leave a building without getting a warm embrace from a sister.

After spending a year as a sorority woman, I know that every reason I wanted to join was valid. I wanted to become more passionate about helping others, and I now find joy in not only supporting my own philanthropy, but the philanthropies of other chapters. I take my studies seriously, and motivate not only myself, but my other sisters to study more and to try harder in every assignment we have in our classes. I have become a more graceful and kindhearted woman, and because of the classiness of my sisters and what our chapter stands for, I have become a woman that I admire.

I am proud of the Comfort Colors t-shirts and all of the glitter, because I know that they mean so much more than the excitement of a date party or mixer. I display my letters proudly because I know that they represent decades of hard work, dedication, and class. Because of my sorority, I am more confident, take more responsibility, and know that it is okay to ask for help. This organization brings so much more to women than just new friends. It inspires ambition, builds character, and helps us become the best version of ourselves.