I never imagined myself as a "sorority girl." My entire concept of being in a sorority was very off-base. I told myself I was not meant to be in a sorority because I did not giggle and squeal at things, my credit card was not my best friend, and I was not really into making t-shirts. 

When I joined Kappa Delta at Villanova University, I realized that I could not have been more wrong and that I was previously one of those annoying, judgmental girls that hate on sorority girls for no real reason. 

But, after a year as a member of this sorority, I have to say Kappa Delta has changed a lot for me.

When I came to college I was absolutely frightened - I'm talking "fish out of water" lost. I was around 750 milesfrom home and I knew no one coming here. At home I had dinner with my parents and my sister almost every night but when I came to Villanova I was so lost that I didn't even know who I'd have dinner with. I didn't know who to trust and because I was such an awkward human being, I just didn't know what to do with myself. I would be lying if I didn't tell you that first semester freshman year was just ROUGH. 

I laugh every time I contrast my experience of first semester freshman year with my life at the moment. 

I was so awkward. I can never get over how unsure of myself I was when I first came to college. I was still so unsure of myself when I decided to rush a sorority, when I accepted a bid, and when I met all of the girls that were my new sisters. It's all just so funny because at the time, I had no idea how much I would come to love all of those moments and all of those people.

When I accepted my bid from Kappa Delta I laughed at the idea of these girls being at my wedding and being some of my life-long friends. I figured it was all an airy, romantic picture that girls threw together to spin tales of their perfect lives. 

Right now, I don't know if they will be at my wedding or if they will be with me when I'm all raisin-y and old, but I do know that I want them to be. 

The girl that walks through campus with you at 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning in the pouring rain so that you wouldn't have to walk alone, or the girl who brings you breakfast when you're too sick to move, or the one who stays up to watch a movie with you when you're in a bad mood, even though she has a test the next day - those are the girls that I want to drink prune juice with when I'm older. 

KD gave me a family.

I still can't believe that I went from one awkward freshman to being a part of a family of some of the most compassionate and downright hilarious people that I will ever come to know. They gave me people to eat dinner with, cry to, and share moments of manic happiness with. They gave me an intramural volleyball team to bump, set, and spike with and phenomenal girls to spend my Friday and Saturday nights with. I mean where else can you find a group of girls who make you forget it's 5 a.m.? Every sorority tells you that they will be your new family but I can honestly say that I could never have imagined feeling more at home.

Girls who trudge out to dance with Girl Scouts in the early hours of a Saturday morning, run across campus to paint corn hole boards for Shamrock to support Prevent Child Abuse America and work to inspire confidence in girls and women every where are the girls that I call my family. 

They tough it out and put in the work to try and put a smile on someone else's face. Not just in their philanthropic efforts but also with one another. I can't even count the number of times a sister has sacrificed something to help me out and make my day a little better. 

Kappa Delta girls are always seeking that which is honorable, beautiful, and highest and I could not be happier to call them my family and sisters for life. AOT and I can't wait to see all of you ladies when we're in walkers.