I was once there.

I sat in my dorm my freshmen year during recruitment. Fall recruitment was done and I regretted not going.

I saw girls running out of the bid reveal hugging and laughing.

I saw girls posting about how excited they were that they have a whole chapter of sisters now.

I saw random friends from my high school become apart of it, and I instantly regretted my decision to stay in my dorm.

Although, I do not regret the decision now because everything happens for a reason, at the time becoming apart of something would have helped with my first semester.

I had a group of friends in my major, but I wouldn’t say that we were necessarily close at that point.

I did well in my classes and had free time to go to the gym and get my life together.

But, even with all of these things, I felt empty and alone, which still didn’t make sense because I had so many other things going on.

At the semesters end I had become a part of a group of friends that I still cherish my time with now, but I felt like something was missing.

I don’t really know what exactly drove me towards a sorority. I know that people had mentioned it to me and how great it was, and even though I wanted to join one I had no idea what it was about. All I heard in high school was the stereotypes such as “you’re paying for friends” and “they only like each other because they are all pretty”, but I went anyway.

I walked into spring recruitment alone and had absolutely no idea what to expect.

I knew nothing about the cost, service requirements, friendships, the bid process, what a big was, or what happens during recruitment events. I learned about all of this during recruitment week. Now if I am being totally honest, it was very overwhelming. A group of very friendly, pretty, and empathetic girls standing in front of you can be a bit nerve racking. Nevertheless, I loved each night and I felt very nervous for what was to come. At the end of the week I received a bid (in case you don’t know this is the sorority’s invitation for you to join them in their sisterhood) and I was excited and nervous for what I had wanted all along.

What I didn’t know was that it would be one of the best decisions I made at school.

I became a part of service on my campus.

I had people outside of my major to connect and talk to.

My big is one of my best friends, and I am a big. (Funny because I didn’t even know what this “big” did at one point).

And I found a group of girls who care about me, and are consistently there for me at all times.

I know not everyone’s story is like this, but I hope it changes your mind about any doubts you have about sororities, because I wish someone told this to my freshmen self.