To all the PNMs out there, this one goes out to you. If you were anything like me, you never thought Greek life would be for you. Throughout high school, I never understood the idea behind sisterhood and did not see myself ever rushing. But now, as a sophomore who is about to be a hostess during recruitment, I hope this letter will show you why I changed my mind and could not be happier that I did.

One of the most difficult transitions anyone will ever undergo is leaving home and high school behind and starting your college journey. You are in a new city where you do not know anyone but hold onto the hope that these will in fact be the best four years of your life. You slowly begin to meet people but still worry in the back of your mind that friendships there will never compare to those you made in high school. These fears were real for me and they are real for many freshmen out there.

The rest of first semester is spent growing closer to girls on your hall and staying up way too late to try and finish assignments and prepare for exams. College at this point may feel more day to day rather than a home. Greek life, however, changes this for students all over the country.

College is not something you can do on your own. It is all about the relationships made along the way that make it truly amazing. Joining a sorority is just one of the ways to get involved and meet people you share things in common with. For me, it did just that.

When I joined a sorority, everything changed for me. Because I remained open-minded, I met girls who encouraged me and pushed me out of my comfort zone. I went places I never would have before. From functions to formals to community service, I had experiences I would not have found otherwise.

One of the best parts about joining a sorority is the opportunity it gives to meet older students. College can seem overwhelming and chaotic at times, so what better way to talk it through than with someone who understands and has experienced for herself? I cannot express how different this can make your college experience.

Overall, you may read this and still be unsure about Greek life, and that is okay. As I said, I was convinced I would never join but here I am and it is one of the best decisions I made. I can truly say it has opened me up to more friendships and opportunities that would have never been there otherwise. If Greek life is not for you, I encourage you to try something similar such as getting involved in a club or sport. College is the best if you put in the time and effort and pledging a sorority definitely made that happen for me.