1. Didn't pay for my friends:

One of my best friends here at school is not in a sorority. I didn’t “pay” for her, and I still enjoy talking to her about everything that goes on in my life in an out of the sorority, even though she doesn’t understand all the sorority lingo/ events. There are over 250 girls in my sorority, and for someone to say that I paid for my friends would be ignorant to the fact that I don’t even know all the girls, let alone am friends with them. We don’t pay for our friends, but rather are pooled together with potential friends who share the same values and are likeminded to us.

2. Have clothes that aren’t big t-shirts, my letters, nike shorts, leggings LOL:

Sometimes I don’t wear my letters. It is nice when people don’t know what group I belong in, because people treat you differently based on who you’re associated with. Sometimes yes, I do wear big t-shirts and leggings, but mostly because I have no motivation to wear anything else. On the other hand, just because I’m dressed in a different way, doesn’t mean I’m not a part of a sorority.

3. Don't exclude:

I’ve met some pretty great people outside of my sorority, and the Greek community while I’ve been here at college. In fact, I hang out with them just as much, if not more than people that are in my sorority. It’s important for me to surround myself with people in different groups as part of my experience of learning here at Missouri State.

4. Work hard and am serious about school:

I want to get out of school eventually. School comes first here at college. Sorority events take up a lot of time, however, I always put it second to school. I’m sorry, but I’m just not going to sacrifice a grade for a meeting, event, etc.

5. Have a boyfriend that’s not in a fraternity:

What a shocker? I have a relationship that I hold very important to my life, and I don’t let my sorority get in the way of it.

6. Go to church/ am in a ministry:

I’m in a sorority, but I do go to church, and keep the Lord close to my heart. I’m part of a ministry here on campus. Although there are many common "party girl" stereotypes about sorority women, they're not all true, and I try to live my life honoring the Lord.

7. Do my own thing:

I’m not 100% sorority mode 100% percent of the time. It’s nice to get away from all of it every once in a while and do things that personally interest me. I don’t have to fit a certain mold to be in a sorority, and in fact, I won't.

8. Have an identity other than a “sorority girl”:

The basis of all these reasons is to prove that we shouldn’t be stereotyping women in a sorority. There are many good things that come out of a sorority, and it is a good way to get involved after you’ve left what you’ve known back in high school. If it weren’t for my sorority, I wouldn’t have a support system like I already do my first semester of college. I also wouldn’t have known about the opportunity for writing for the Odyssey. Sororities are a great way to develop yourself, and women shouldn’t be shamed in any way for being a part of one.