Going through recruitment was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I met so many amazing, quirky, hilarious girls that I never would have known if it weren't for rush.

While I had been excited about the idea of being in a sorority for a year prior to actually joining, I did not receive the same excitement from other people when I told them I was planning to be in a Panhellenic organization. In fact, at an event the summer before my freshman year of college, I was asked if I was going to rush. When I responded with a "yes," I was met with every outdated and untrue stereotype of sororities imaginable, including, but certainly not limited to:

1. "You're just paying for your friends."

False, I am paying to do fun things with my friends and for places to do those fun things at. This past semester, my chapter has had a pajama night at a roller skating rink, an awesome date party, several dinners, mixers, tailgates, etc. Also, in the majority of clubs you join, you are required to pay dues. Paying chapter and national dues for your sorority is no different.

2. "All new members get hazed."

This actually did worry me before I joined, because of all the movies and stories the media shares. Personally, though, I know that our Panhellenic community has an extremely strict "no hazing" policy, and they strongly enforce it. I can honestly say that I have NEVER been hazed. In fact, we are shown more love than I ever thought was possible.

3. "They're all a bunch of wild party girls."

Every sorority is going to have a mix of girls who like to go out, and girls who don't. I would be lying if I said I had never gone to a fraternity party. But, I have never drank at one, nor do I plan to. In fact, many of the girls I hang out with on a regular basis only go to the parties to meet up with their friends... Because, ya know, that's kind of what parties are for. It is actually possible to be in a sorority, and stick to your morals- Surprise.

4. "All of the girls that I know in sororities are airheads."

I have news for you, every sorority has GPA requirements for their new members, and active members. On average, students involved in Greek life have a higher GPA than non-Greek life students. We are encouraged to spend a certain number of hours per week in the library and given opportunities to connect with other members of our chapter who share the same major, so that we can collaborate.

And last but not least, my personal favorite....

5. "They all secretly hate each other."

I think that this is the statement that angers me the most. I have never met more loving or caring women before. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen someone in my pledge class offer to give whoever needs one a ride to an event, or to take them to dinner when they are sad. When I joined my sorority, I was met with almost two hundred like-minded girls who truly only want the best for me, whether we are close or not. Sure, I don't personally know every member of my chapter. Honestly, I'm not best friends with all fifty girls in my pledge class... But, because of our common bond, I truly have a love for them that I'll never be able to share with anyone else!

So, to every critic out there who thinks Greek life, more specifically sororities, are a bad thing - guess what? They're not.

My sorority, in one semester, has changed my outlook on so many things. But, I guess what they say is true... "From the outside, you can never understand it. From the inside, you can never explain it."