When the words "sorority girl" come out of my mouth a lot of people connect the bad connotations that come with it. I often feel judged for being in a sorority. When I speak to people who are not involved in the Greek Community, I often feel that they agree with the media and I feel as if I am being slightly judged for being in a sorority. I often feel that being "basic," a "partier," "dumb," "egotistical" and "fake" are directly connected with being in a sorority. Those words are the words that some believe are the true definition of a stereotypical sorority girl and that is not correct.

Joining Greek Life was something that I always wanted to do. The reason why I wanted to join a sorority was because I wanted to meet a large group of people quickly. Since I joined a sorority I have realized that it is more than just having friends. I have learned that the stereotype that the media has given greek life is not accurate.

I am a stereotypical sorority girl and I am proud to call myself that.

A stereotypical sorority girl strives to do well in school because she knows that the reason why she has the opportunity to be in a sorority is because of school. She pushes herself to do well because academics is the reason why she gets to have her home away from home.

A stereotypical sorority girl pushes herself and her sisters to be the best version of themselves. She holds herself and her sisters to a higher standard. She wants to protect her self-image and be classy. She does not do things that will tear her down or make her look anything but amazing.

A stereotypical sorority girl stands by her sisters through thick and thin. She always sticks up for her sisters when others are bad mouthing her. She values the loyalty that her sisters have taught her. She realizes her sisters image is just as important as her own. She realizes that she is not just one person but she is a part of something bigger that means so much to her.

Honestly, without my sorority, I would not be the person I am today. I would not have the confidence that I have now. I would not value giving back to the community as much as I do now. I cannot imagine my life without my sisters. If I did not have my sisters I would not have weekend plans, I would not stay up later than I should most nights, I would not have a shoulder to cry on, I would not have anyone who could look at me and read my emotions, I would not have someone to go on 2 a.m. food runs with, and I would not have the same college experience. The girls that I did not know before college have made a huge impact on my life. These girls are now my sisters and I could not imagine my life without them.

I strive to be a stereotypical sorority girl because the quote, "From the outside looking in you cannot understand it but, from the inside looking out you cannot explain it." On the outside, no one will ever understand what we do and why we love it so much. Being on the inside, we cannot explain how much it means to us because the experience has been something that words cannot describe. Being a sorority girl is not about the parties, the exclusive group or the letters that you wear on your shirt. Being a sorority girl is about how your letters have changed you and have molded you into the person that you are now. The letters you have been given do not automatically give you the confidence to become a better version of yourself. Your letters and your sisters teach you that you always had the ability to be who you are now, but you just needed a little push.