My freshman year of college was probably very similar to many other people's experiences. The problem was, though, that I didn't know that at the time so, naturally, I had convinced myself I was a failure and that I didn't have what it takes to make it through college.

I started off in a really tough place. I was the only person from my school to choose to go to Adrian College, and I didn't find out until later years that people from other schools in our conference decided on AC as well, so at the time I didn't know anyone. My two very best friends were still back at home starting their senior year of high school. I'm not very good at making new friends, even still, so I spent my time going back home every Friday, right as soon as my Spanish class was over, and not returning until very late on Sunday nights. And then I spent the rest of my time frantically working to finish assignments I put off for going home.

I also went from being a three-sport athlete, playing on AAU and travel teams while also playing for my school at the same time, to doing absolutely nothing physical other than walking the single city block that makes up our small campus to classes and back.

I started off in a major I wasn't actually sure I wanted anything to do with just because I was pretty decent at it and I had received multiple compliments and even scholarships from the department. I hated the classes, the projects, and even some of the people.

I was miserable in almost every aspect of my life at the time.

I had seen the flyers for "Meet the Greeks" and the informational nights posted in my dorm hall and ignored them all. I had precisely zero interest in Greek life. All I knew about it, or so I thought, was that the movies wouldn't show all fraternities and sororities constantly drinking and making questionable decisions if it weren't at least partly true, right? So I went on my way, kept going to classes and kept going home.

I remember so clearly the night I decided to give it a try, just for the hell of it. I was on the phone with my mom, most likely complaining about school and how much I missed home even though I had just been there a few days before. She asked if there were any organizations I wanted to join or something along the lines of that, and of course I said no. Then she asked about recruitment and if I had seen anything about Greek life. To make a pointless story shorter, she convinced me to at least talk to someone about it before I actually said no.

So the next night, I wandered into the student center looking for someone to ask what I had to do to try it out. It turned out that that night was Round 1 of formal sorority recruitment so I was technically too late. Cool. After the rough day I had and getting my hopes up for hours for at least being able to try it, I thought I was going to be sent away with a simple "no".

I actually broke down and started sobbing right there in the student center in front of these women I had never met before because I thought I had screwed up my chances by being just hours late. But the VP of Recruitment at the time, a wonderful girl from Alpha Sigma Alpha, Emily, and the other recruitment assistants (we call them Rho Gammas here) comforted me and talked me through everything I had been going through. They must have thought I could benefit from Greek life because somehow they pulled some strings and got me in.

They made sure I knew when and where to show up the next night so I could go through the rest of recruitment. They were so kind and helpful, and looking back now I know it's kind of part of the job but, at the same time, they didn't have to be so caring and work so hard to get me in. They could have left it at, "We're really sorry, but it's too late." That was my first clue that I might actually find something worth while in all of this.

I came back the next night, hopped in a van with one too many overly excited, peppy and polished freshman girls, and was on my way to my first recruitment party. Since I missed the first night, I was thrown right in to Philanthropy Night without much information on any of the sororities themselves. We learned about each philanthropy and the community services each sorority takes part in each year and it was all great and very informational, but it just didn't impact me at all. I wasn't sold.

I remember asking one of the absolute worst questions you could possibly ask. I was sat at Chi Omega's Make-A-Wish party with one of the actives and she asked if I had any questions for her. With not going through the night before, I had loads but I didn't know where to start. What ended up coming out of my mouth was, "Why should I pick your sorority over the others?" Every time I look back on that moment, I mentally facepalm and wonder how the hell I was even invited back. But she had the best response for me. She said, "It's not really about why you should pick us. It's not a competition. It's more about finding where you feel most comfortable and where you feel at home."

That really hit me hard and made me open my eyes a bit wider during the whole process. I started thinking about the kind of people I wanted to surround myself with and what and who I wanted to become.

When it came time for Preference Night, I was a nervous wreck. I had been invited two of the parties and I was so excited that they both wanted me. But all I had been able to think about was, "What if I make the wrong choice?" I was sat with a different active member at Chi Omega's Pref Night and we had a nice conversation that somehow lead me to confessing how scared I was of making the wrong decision and ruining the next four years of my life. I ended up crying (I was very emotional, don't judge me for all of my tears) and she comforted me and basically said the same thing the other girl had said.

But she added something that shouldn't have given me the amount of confidence it did. She said, "Just don't worry about it. You'll make the right choice." It was so simple but it gave me the reassurance that at least someone believed I'd do the right thing.

The ceremony really stuck with me, too. Even now, the final part of the Chi Omega Pref Night party is one of my absolute favorite things about my fraternity. It's the first glimpse into what Chi O is really about and it's simply beautiful. After seeing that for the first time, I knew what I had to do.

I went through the second party in a daze, and I think the other girls knew, too, because they honestly didn't spend much time with me. I just couldn't wait to get back and fill out my preference sheet.

We do things a bit differently at Adrian, so there's no actual "running home" waving your bid in the air. We receive our Bid Day shirt and wear them under zip-up hoodies, and finally reveal ourselves to all of the sororities and anyone else who cares to watch us be welcomed "home" in the student center. Bid Day was the next day, and I remember stepping up to the microphone and introducing myself, clutching the zipper on my hoodie and trying to hide which t-shirt I wore. I was shaking with nerves, somehow thinking these women who had chosen me and I chose back wouldn't actually accept me.

The Greek Life Coordinator at the time asked me, "So Regen, where are you going?" I stood there, partially because of nerves and partially for dramatic effect, and took a deep breath. I yanked my zipper down, proudly showed by bright blue v-neck t-shirt, and yelled "Chi Omega!"

Out of nowhere I was surrounded by my new sisters all attempting to hug my while simultaneously dragging me back to where our group was huddled together next to the other sororities. In the midst of all of the hugs and screeching, I was finally wrapped up by the same girl from the night previous. All she did was squeeze me tightly and say to me, "See!? I knew you'd make the right choice!"

We have a thing we like to say and keep in mind during recruitment. "It's not whether or not Chi Omega needs the girl. It's whether or not the girl needs Chi Omega." Chi Omega might not have needed me, but I sure as hell needed these women and this organization in my life. I know I made the right choice.