Going into college, all I wanted was a solid group of girlfriends who would have my back for the next four years and for the rest of my life. After attending an all-girls school for four years, I was familiar with several aspects of sisterhood, and I had a really supportive group of friends throughout my high school years. In college, I wanted the same thing.

My first semester of school, I clicked with a few people, but I didn't feel like they'd be my go-to girls for life. We were all kind of just friends because it was convenient. Don't get me wrong, they're great people, but something didn't feel right.

After a lot of thinking and consideration, I decided to rush, even though I didn't necessarily think of myself as the stereotypical "sorority girl." I knew a lot of people who had had positive experiences in sororities, specifically at Penn State, and I figured I'd at least give it a shot. Recruitment was the most tiring and stressful week of my life, but I'm happy I stuck to it because if I hadn't, I wouldn't have met my sisters and best friends.

A few weeks in, I had established an amazing group of friends who I genuinely enjoyed being around. We made a group chat and the rest is history. I know I can count on them for pretty much anything, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do without them this summer. We never fail to have the best time, whether it's a fun night out or ordering food together at 2 A.M. They are all incredible people who are not only fun but very goal oriented and serious about their futures. We all have different passions, and we all support each other.

Another incredible part of joining a sorority is getting a big. I met my big on a coffee date after one of her friends had encouraged me to reach out to her, and honestly, thank God we met because I seriously don't know what I would do without her. She's the most positive and caring person I know and the best friend anyone could ever ask for.

We have so much in common that it's almost scary, and we both met each other at difficult moments in our lives, which makes our bond even stronger. We spend a ton of time together doing everything and anything because we genuinely enjoy each other's company so much. A big/little friendship is something unlike anything I've ever experienced, and I couldn't be more grateful.

Sororities have a lot of stereotypes for being girls who just go out all the time and don't care about anything else, but my time in my sorority has already shown me that none of this is true in the slightest.

We have our GPAs to uphold to be a member in good standing, and if you want to be in a leadership position, you are held to a higher standard. If anything, my sorority has motivated me to want to succeed in school. Next year, I'm possibly interested in running for a leadership team position, and I know that I will have to maintain a high GPA next year in order for that to happen.

Surrounding yourself with people who are as motivated as you, if not more motivated, is such an important part of succeeding in school in my opinion.

Joining a sorority was just the turn around I needed after a rough first semester. While, of course, I faced challenges and difficulties in the spring, I had an amazing amount of support from my sisters and new best friends. If I hadn't rushed and met the incredible people I did, I would have missed out on a great opportunity.

It just goes to show you what can happen if you try something new and put yourself out there. I learned from day one that the sorority stereotypes are not true, especially after meeting some of the most genuine people ever this semester.

If you're considering rushing this coming fall or even next spring, I am a big advocate for giving it a chance. Once you are offered a bid, you can usually drop if you don't think it's for you. College is all about trying new things ad branching out, and you never know if joining a sorority could change your college experience for the better.