So I didn't rush when I got to college. I didn't wake up at six in the morning to do my hair and makeup and dress up in whatever I was required to and walk around from sorority house to sorority house trying to get a bid. I knew plenty of girls who had already rushed. I learned about the process of it all and the commitments required and the costs, and then I decided it wasn't for me. And that's okay.

I was on the dance team in high school. I was in "that" group that got stereotyped and labeled as being one of "those girls". It wasn't until people really got to know me that they realized I wasn't slutty, I was smart and I wasn't a bitch. That's how people at my high school saw girls on the dance team; slutty, stupid, and a brat. Don't get me wrong, there will always be girls in the world like that, but we need to stop stereotyping people based on groups they're associated with. All the band kids aren't freaks and all the jocks aren't dumb douches. My point is, I was labeled easily and I find it unfair that girls in sororities go through the same thing.

I will admit that there are girls who are in it for the partying. They would come screaming down the hallway in the middle of the night after a frat party and ripped decorations off of my room's door and they threw up in the stall as I got ready for class in the morning. Not judging their lifestyle, but leave my award-winning Christmas decorated door alone when you come in drunk at three in the morning. K thx.

I remember my first week on campus I watched girls in the dining hall all dressed up with name tags following around girls in sororities. I was in my leggings, Nike slides, a t-shirt and my hair was in a ponytail. I like my sleep and comfy clothes, don't get me wrong, but I also know what it's like to dress up and put on your makeup and be around girls all day doing "girl" things and it's kinda fun. It's nice when you get together with your friends to all do each other's hair and makeup. On the dance team, I did that and I liked having the girl talk and getting ready for events together. So I can see how a sisterhood is built. When you have to be around people all the time to volunteer or make floats for parades or go to games or parties together–chances are, you're going to make a lot of friends and create memories you'll never forget and have some fun along the way. It's just inevitable.

I understand that being in a sorority means more than paying to have friends. Personally, I have a single parent who pays for everything for me and with enough loans I'm already going to have to pay back after graduation, I didn't want her to have to pay a penny more for me being in a sorority. But if other people want to spend their money on that, and if they're able to, great for them. Why would I care how they spend their money? There are still people not in sororities who still buy alcohol and go party. It's just a stereotype.

And not all sororities are meant for partying, or if there are some that are even just meant for that. I honestly don't know that much. They all have an area in which they "specialize". Like the Make a Wish foundation is one, and I know other sororities that focus on religion and one that does agriculture. They're all specific and help people find others to connect with on a common ground and I think that's helpful for college students.

But then there's the idea that all girls in sororities are dumb blondes. Last time I checked a lot of sororities require a minimum GPA to be considered. And I mean like a 3.7 unweighted high school GPA. They look at programs you were involved in and clubs and sports; they take that part seriously in recruitment. And I know there are sororities where you have to keep your grades up. For me, that's just added pressure. I do well in school, but I don't want that in the back of my mind where I need to keep a certain GPA to stay in my greek house. That would freak me out. But girls in sororities are not all idiots and for those that think that should probably stop thinking that way.

And my goodness, the hours spent doing community service, meetings at the house and events, the crafts and preparations for recruitment. So. Much. Time. And commitment I might add. I prefer to spend my time watching Netflix and crying over an episode of Grey's Anatomy while I eat a pint of Ben and Jerry's Phish Food. But that's just me. Maybe those girls will go to apply for a job one day and the hours they spent doing community service, or the connections they have through their sororities will help them land a job. And that's awesome. Any way to help get you a job out of college is a plus. And I know women who have gotten HR jobs where their experience through their sorority helped them. But like I said, I chose not to rush and that was a personal decision.

My point is girls who rush get a bad rep. They get stereotyped into someone they're not just because they post pictures of new friends they made through their sorority. They have a "big" or "little" or "twin" or whatever all of that is, but hey, good for them. I often post three pictures of my dog on the same day and no one talks bad about me–or that I know of. Anyways, they all have matching shirts that are super cute and I'm super jealous of them. And their bid day involves balloons so that's pretty cool too.

But why were we so quick to throw them under the bus and talk bad about them?

Yes, the girls who come back from frat parties and wake me from my sleep will get the stink eye from me in the bathroom the next morning, but any girl who wakes me up at three AM will get the stink eye from me because I'm a princess and you shall not wake me from my slumber. But for the love of all that is good and holy, mind your own business and let these girls have some fun by rushing and going to games with their greek friends and making coolers for their brother fraternities. I have best friends who are rushing and I will cheer them on and help them plan their outfits. I'd do their hair if we went to the same school. But just because I'm not rushing doesn't mean I need to start some battle against the girls that do. There's no fine line between girls who rush or don't. Everyone has their reasons and everyone finds joy in life in their own way. So everyone let's cool our jets and stop stereotyping the sorority girl.