Recently I made the tough decision to drop my sorority. I have been apart of this amazing organization for about a year and a half, so it was not easy saying goodbye. There were a multitude of reasons why I decided dropping would be the best for me, but that is not why I am writing this. I am writing this as a shoutout to my sisters and to tell them one last time how much I appreciate our friendships. I also want to change the views of how people see Greek Life on college campuses because it's a lot more beneficial than most people think.

The most common question I receive from people is, why do people go Greek? And the answer is fairly simple. People go Greek to be apart of something that is bigger than themselves. Most new members are typically freshmen or transfers, and they are looking for a welcoming crowd of people they can call home. Greek Life teaches you responsibility and accountability, which we all need to learn more of in college. A great number of people always tell me that I have been "paying for friendships," which is not true at all. When I made the decision to drop, my sisters stood right by me and supported whatever decision I made. We are still as close as the day I joined this sorority, so I definitely never paid for friendships. The payments have the same importance as any other club on campus because essentially that is all fraternities and sororities are. Another reason I joined my specific sorority was because of the philanthropy. Of course every sorority has their own philanthropy, but the sorority I was apart of had one that truly stood out to me. I was also a legacy, but that did not have much to do with my choosing of who I wanted. It was all about the people in the organization.

So here is my shoutout to my ladies out there. Thank you for everything. Thank you for the laughs, the late night talks, all of the outfits I have borrowed and everything else. You guys are some of the most determined, strong women I have ever met, and I am so grateful for my friendships with each of you. You all have taught me to kick back sometimes and enjoy life when things become too hard. You taught me to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, and you all taught me what a real friend is. I am eternally grateful for every single one of you and cannot wait to see what lies ahead in not only your futures, but this organization's future. I love you guys.