August is just around the corner and that means many freshmen girls are preparing for recruitment. Most large universities recruit in the fall (UNG recruits in the spring, thank goodness) and this can be a very stressful time. Going off to college is scary enough, but throwing yourself head first into recruitment sounds terrifying.

I applaud those that can do it. While I was fortunate enough to go through recruitment by second semester, I am thinking about those that are about to start in the next few weeks. Here are a few things I have learned from joining a sorority.

1. Your sisters are going to be some of your best friends.

While it sounds terrifying, jumping head first into recruitment has its perks. Starting college is scary and what's even scarier is trying to make friends and find your group. I know this was my biggest fear because I had so many friends from high school. Now I had to start over and I didn't know what to do. By going through recruitment at the start of your freshmen year (or even later on down the road), you meet so many girls and eventually, you find your forever home.

2. It's easy to get involved on campus.

Greek life is always involved on campus. For incoming freshmen, it can be overwhelming trying to find things to get involved in because there are so many different things. From sports and theater clubs to rock climbing and writing clubs (Odyssey!), everybody can find something they are interested in. Greek life is one of these things. From philanthropy work to partnering up with other Greek chapters and clubs, Greek is always doing something somewhere on campus.

3. You always have someone to eat with.

The scariest thing for me all through middle and high school was "who am I going to eat lunch with?!" Well, going off to college, I had these same fears except now I had to find people to eat with for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When you are joining a sorority, you immediantly make 100 friends. So that means you are bound to know at least one person in the dining halls whenever you want to grab a bite.

4. Sisters are there to cheer you on.

As you start to get more involved on campus, your sisters will always have your back. If you join an intermural team, your sisters will come out and support you. If you are going to be speaking at a conference, your sisters will come and listen. Sisters are your biggest fans and they are always there to lift you up.

5. There is always a shoulder to lean on.

Everyone has a rough patch when they start college. You realize that you are officially on your own and it's scary. When you miss home and you just want to cry and eat ice cream, I can guarentee that a sister will be ready to come comfort you, ice cream in hand.

Good luck to all the freshmen that are about to go through recruitment! It is a stressful, but unforgettable experience. Go in with an open mind and you will find your family.