Three years ago, I made a decision that would forever change my life. I never imagined that simply rushing a sorority would bring such a positive and significant impact on my life, and for that, I am forever grateful for the incredible women in my organization.

Not only have I found lifelong friends who will be my future bridesmaids, I ultimately bettered myself as a person. I've grown from a scared, naive freshman to a senior who is confident in herself and her choices. I have my sorority to thank for that.

Here are 10 awesome things joining a sorority has taught me.

1. How To Be A Role Model

I always joke that I am basically my little's mom, and in a way it's true. As a big sister, you have someone looking up to you, looking to you for advice, and truly depending on you to be there for them.

I've learned from my own big how to be a role model through her always being there for me and encouraging me to be my best self. It was so beneficial to have a mentor in my earlier years of college. I love that I get to be like that for someone else, now with my own little.

2. Confidence

When you surround yourself with strong women who only lift you up, it's pretty safe to say finding confidence within yourself is a lot easier when you have people who only want you to be your best self in your life.

3. Time Management Skills

It's no secret that sororities are a major time commitment. With chapter meetings, philanthropy events, study hours, and mixers, it can be decently overwhelming. It's a lot to take on all at once, but ultimately throughout the past few years, I've learned to balance it, along with schoolwork and other responsibility.

Time management is one of the most valuable skills you can get and I know it is going to be super beneficial to me once I graduate and find a job.

4. Depending On People

One of the most valuable things I gained from joining my sorority was the amazing support system I was instantly surrounded with. These girls are the people I can call at 3 a.m. crying, or simply the people who can go out and bring me soup when I'm sick.

If I just need help with homework, or if I'm going through a difficult time, I know I can count on them to be there for me; and for that, I am forever grateful.

5. How To Be More Compassionate

Just like how your sisters are there for you, you learn to be there for your sisters in their times of need too. In my chapter, there are so many of us, so many people from different walks of life that you really get to learn about each other.

You learn how to put yourself in the other person's shoes. It teaches you empathy and builds strong friendships that will last a lifetime.

6. Leadership Skills

There are plenty of leadership opportunities once you become a member. It doesn't matter if you're taking on the responsibility as president or as a member of the executive board, or if you are just in charge of planning a philanthropy event or even a date party. The experiences you get will be with you for the rest of your life.

Having to take on the responsibility of over a hundred girls and having all of them count on you seems intimidating at first, but once you do it, you feel like you can accomplish anything.

7. Philanthropic Opportunities

Despite stereotypes that immediately brand sorority girls for raging party girls, one of the main reasons my sisters and I joined is for our philanthropy. My particular sorority works with the special Olympics, a cause that is so close to my heart and my sisters.

To actually get to go and volunteer together was one of my most rewarding experiences in college. No matter what sorority you join, they all have amazing philanthropies that you may never have gotten the chance to become a part of.

8. Academic Achievements

Another stereotype of "Sorority girls are dumb." From my experience, this could not be further from the truth. You have to maintain at LEAST a 2.5 GPA or higher to participate in recruitment and to continue being an active member of your chapter.

When I became a member, I found that I was actually doing better in my studies than I was before. We have mandatory study hours and we go by the mantra that school comes first before the sorority.

I also now have a large network of sisters to help me when it came to schoolwork. Study groups with sisters were my lifeline and there was always an older sister with my major who could give me advice for the best teachers and best classes.

9. How To Not Care What People Think Of You

With the confidence I get from this loving and supportive environment, you really get to be yourself, and you stop caring so much what other people think of you. No one is ever judging each other.

With my sorority, it's truly a place I can be myself and not be weighed down by the thoughts and opinions of others.

10. Getting To Be A Part Of Something Bigger Than Yourself

When I first went out during recruitment, I never pictured it being one of the things that would impact my life the most in college. I didn't expect to come out of it with such a strong support system, skills that would last me a lifetime, and forever friendships.

I was able to make an impact on others too and there's nothing more rewarding than that to me. Thousands of women have been a part of my sorority across the country, and I could not be more proud to be a part of that legacy.

I am eternally grateful to get to be a part of something bigger than myself.