When I came to college, I didn't know much about Greek life. All I knew is that I didn't want to be a part of it. I had heard the stereotypes of sororities and fraternities, and I was completely against Greek life as a whole.

Then I met some people from a sorority, and I didn't think they fit the sorority stereotype at all, so I decided to give it a chance. I signed up for recruitment the very last day that you could, and began my journey into what is recruitment.

It was really overwhelming, the whole thing. Meeting every organization, the hours spent in the Student Union, picking out which outfit they would like best, it was scary for me.

After the two long weekends spent in recruitment, I found my home in Alpha Gamma Delta.

Growing up, I didn't get the chance to grow up with my brothers or sisters. I lived in North Carolina and they lived in New Hampshire. I never really got that family feel until I met my step family. But, my little sister was years apart in age, and I wasn't close at all with my step brothers. So when I joined Alpha Gam, I got a hundred sisters thrown at me all at once and I loved it. I was welcomed in with open arms and I instantly felt at home. I always felt alone before AGD and then they gave me the family that I always wanted and the support system I always needed.

I suffer from anxiety/depression disorder, and my freshman year it only got worse. It was probably one of my worst years. My sisters were there every time I needed someone, whether it was someone I needed to talk to in order to calm me down, or someone to hold my hand when I was trying to breathe again. They were my shoulders to cry on, my listening ears and my reminders of how beautiful life is. When everything got bad, my sisters made sure to bring the light back into my life, and I'm forever thankful for that. They brought me out of my darkest days and loneliest nights and they are some of the best friends I could have ever asked for. I never in a million years thought I would have gotten out of that rut, and they pulled me through.

I found out that being a "sorority girl" isn't the stereotypes that the name is tied to, but really about being a part of something bigger than ourselves. Finding our home away from home and our second families. I never knew that I could walk into a room and know everyone by name, and find everyone to be so genuine and so filled with love. I can't think of myself in any other place with any other people. My sisters gave me the confidence and hope that I lost so long ago, and made sure that I knew I was home with them. They may not be sisters by blood but they're sisters by choice, and I'm so thankful I made Alpha Gamma Delta my choice everyday.