The idea of joining a sorority is often met with mixed emotions. There is a slight twinge of nerves; a fear or anxiety about finding a place to call home. Similarly there is excitement; an overwhelming sense of elation about what is to come. These feelings are normal. Everyone experiences some type of nervous anticipation coupled with uncontrollable excitement. What most people don’t think about though, is that it’s not really about the sorority you join, because people don’t join sororities. People join people.

The dictionary defines a sorority as, “A social club or society for University women." This flat, stagnant definition is underwhelming to say the least. Sure, there are social opportunities where dressing up in crazy outfits is the norm, but sororities also provide amazing networking and leadership development. There are opportunities to fuel philanthropic endeavors, both locally and nationally. Sororities provide the skills for college girls to grow as individuals and become driven, young women. Every sorority provides these opportunities, or at least the ones at my school do. So it’s not so much about joining a sorority, or a “social club or society for University women," because sororities are often extremely similar.

When you join a sorority, you are joining a group of two-hundred (ish) women who will very quickly change your life. You’re joining people. So when searching for the perfect sorority, find the people you can’t wait to spend the next four years with. Look around and think about that. When you join a sorority, these two-hundred women will become your sisters. That’s insane! I mean, who has two-hundred sisters? Those two-hundred women have the power to change your life. They have the power to completely morph your college career. Find the people that will change your life in the most positive way you can think of. It really can be the best four years of your life, when you decide to join people.

Find the girls who push you to be the best version of yourself, and see your greatness even when you can’t seem to see it. Find the girls who will go get milkshakes with you at two in the morning. Find the girls who fuel your passion, show excitement about your areas of interest and are curious about getting to know more. Find the girls who will sit on the couch with you for hours or days, and watch Wolf of Wall Street over and over again. Find the girls who make you laugh uncontrollably. The girls who make you laugh so hard your cheeks sting, your stomach hurts, and tears roll down your face. Find the girls who inspire you to try new things and leave your comfort zone behind. Find the genuine girls. The girls whose ridiculous sense of sarcasm mirrors your own. Find the girls who will be there for you no matter what. The girls who will drop what they're doing to comfort you, listen to you, or console you. Find the girls that make you proud, the ones whose own determination you aspire to. Find the girls who will dance with you and be goofy even when everyone is watching. Find the girls you love. These girls will transform into your best friends. They will start as absolute strangers and end up as family. There is no better feeling than being surrounded by a group of women, knowing you are so blessed to have the sisters you do.

So think of that feeling the next time there is a wave of nervous excitement about the prospect of joining a sorority. It is so much more than a social club. It is the opportunity to change your life. The opportunity to find the best friends in the world; the girls who will be in your wedding, who you’ll live with post-graduation, who you’ll love until you're old and wrinkly. Find your people and you’ll realize that it isn’t about joining a sorority, it’s about people joining people.