You're right -- in college, we make many different life decisions. What major we want to pursue, the different internships and jobs we apply for, and even the extracurriculars we join. Greek life is one of them, and it is such an amazing experience, one I highly recommend. My own family didn't understand why I wanted to go Greek, and they still don't understand half of the terms and think it's too much trouble for all the effort I put into it. But I am SO glad that I went Greek. I have not conformed to the stereotypical sorority girl we all see in movies; I am still as independent as I was before I went through recruitment. Only now, I have over 100 other independent women encouraging me to be the best I can be, and do what will help me be successful. So many people think that fraternities and sororities are all about judging people and partying, but we do more than you think--each chapter has at least one philanthropy, and we donate so much money to help these philanthropies. But, you guys never think about that, do you? You can have your opinion on Greek Life, but this one is mine. And I am damn proud to be part of a sorority that lifts me up and is doing good in our community.

1. "What sorority are you in?"

Wow. Thank you SO much for asking!! I am part of Kappa Alpha Theta, and our philanthropy is CASA: Court Appointed Special Advocates. You probably didn't know about that organization, did you?

2. "We do not pay for our friends."

No, we really don't. If we have a house (at Utampa, we don't), we pay for living. Generally, we pay for initiation, we pay for socials and formals and events to help raise money and awareness for our philanthropy. That's not paying for friends; it's like a fee any other club has for its members. And, thankfully, much of our money goes to a good cause, especially for CASA and the events we put on for Theta.

3. *handful of glitter blown into the camera

This is pretty damn hard to do. I tried doing it for my Senior Prom pics, and failed, epically. I'm pretty sure you're just jealous that you haven't mastered it so you can post a cute insta pic and get more than the 20 likes you get now.

4. "You should totally join Greek Life!"

Just because I see something in you that could help raise awareness for an organization, or because I think you have the same values as a sorority, you get annoyed? I will never force someone to join or convince someone who doesn't want to join, to join. But, I never wanted to be involved in Greek Life my first few years of high school, until I spoke to a few girls that were sisters in different sororities. I'm glad I at least listened to what they had to say, because I love my sorority and I'm so happy I joined Theta.

5. "OMG LITTLE!"

As someone who is going through this process now, it's extremely exciting and a pretty big deal. While the girls in your sorority are all your sisters, becoming a Little is being welcomed into a family within the sorority. There is a big reveal and there are hints and it is such a special tradition. The Big/Little process is another way for New Members to feel welcomed and loved in their new sisterhood. I can't wait for Big/Little reveal, and you best believe I'll be screaming BIGGIE every time I see my Big, because I want everyone to know I have the best damn Big around. ily a milli already, whoever you are, Biggie!

6. "OMG BIG!"

From what I understand, becoming a Big is a really BIG deal. You are adding to your family inside of the sorority, and a lot of times, Bigs are girls for Littles to look up to, and go to whenever they want. Bigs look after their Littles and are there for their Littles 24/7, for life. It's a closer bond within the sorority, with a girl that is even more similar to you than all your other sisters. Bigs pretty much take on a younger sister to treat as their own and to help them through life and teach them the ropes. Big are excited to create life long bonds, just as much as Littles are. "It's knowing that you will always have that person to count on, sharing your crazy stories, making late night Chipotle runs, and someone to go out with. It's someone who you know will be at your wedding, cheering your fine ass down the aisle." (via Jennifer Walker) As Nat Beristain-Mayol said, "I'm so FUCKING obsessed with all these girls that they are all my children". (I mean, the New Member Class for Kappa Alpha Theta at UTampa, IS pretty great!)

7. "Sisters by chance, friends by choice."

Okay, so recruitment week definitely looks bad from an outsider's view. But recruitment is a way to see what sorority you would fit best with. You learn the values of each sorority, and you match them to your own. You are not so much "judging" each other, but rather we're deciding if the values of the sorority mean as much to you as they mean to the sorority.

8. "I joined my sorority looking for friends, but what I found were sisters."

No, really, this is pretty damn true. I knew coming into college that I wanted to go through recruitment and join a sorority. I knew it was a great way to become involved in my university, as well as in the Tampa community. I didn't know how much these girls would mean to me. They are not only my friends, but they really are my sisters. We share the same values, and we all care so much about the girls in our sorority. I know they have my back, forever and always.

9. *Letters everywhere

You CLEARLY do not understand this one. We EARN our letters. It is such an HONOR to be able to wear letters. It is such an HONOR to be given a fraternity's letters. This is a REALLY big deal to those of us in Greek life because it means we have been initiated, and are a full sister or brother. I can't wait to be initiated at the end of this month because it means that I have earned my letters, and I know that wherever I go, any sister with ΚΑΘ will help me in any way they can. And that is a pretty amazing thing.

10. "We don't haze." "No, like, I swear we don't."

You do understand that hazing is ILLEGAL... right?? My sorority has a ZERO TOLERANCE for hazing, as do many others. Sure, not all Greek life chapters follow this policy, but they end up getting in trouble. My sorority has not made me do anything I have not wanted to do. I wear the pin because I want to, and I am proud to wear the pin. I do what I want, when I want, where I want, and my sorority supports me, instead of tries to make me do things I don't want to.

11. "Sorority Squat!"

It's called a sorority squat because sorority sisters squat. It makes for a cute picture. Get over it.

12. "Sisterhood!"

We have the same values. We all want to help our philanthropy, and other organizations in any way we can. We want to help people in, and out, of our sorority. It is such an amazing bond. Just like in other groups, maybe we're not all best friends or super close, but you best believe we will help a sister when she's in need. We will never NOT help each other. We don't just support other sororities during Greek Week, we support them at signature events, and at fundraising events, and more. We are all not the petty blonde sorority sisters you see in movies.

13. "It's a Greek thing."

No, really, if you don't understand the lingo or the bond, it's because it's a Greek thing. It's the same thing as "Oh, it's a LAX bro thing" or "FTB" (for hockey players). I'd love to explain it to you, so you're not excluded, but you have a bad attitude and I don't associate myself with people so negative.

14. "OMG love you Big/Little!"

Again, you really don't understand what this means. We don't meet an "hour" before. We go on "dates" and hang out and cry with and talk to potential Bigs long before Big/Little reveal. We come to love the girls in our sorority, especially so our Bigs and Littles.

15. "Ugh, I have *insert Greek life event here* tonight."

You know what, we all dread going to somethings, or events, but we ALWAYS end up having fun with our sisters while we raise awareness and money for whatever cause we support.