Prior to coming to college, I had very little knowledge of what a sorority was or what recruitment was like. I had seen the stereotypical sorority based movies and TV shows, but I knew those weren't accurate. None of my friends had talked about rushing a sorority when coming to college, and no one in my family was really involved in the Greek community when they were in college. However, after coming to college I really considered rushing. At this point, I had one of my best friends who had gone through the recruitment process and had loved every second of it. She had found her home away from home and had found a group of sisters who would always have her back. I was actually going to go through recruitment when she did, but I held myself back. My boyfriend at the time had told me, "Oh I couldn't see you in a sorority," and that really affected my decision to rush, even though at the time, I made other excuses like “Oh, I’m too busy,” or “I’m too shy,” or just any number of things you can imagine. But deep down, I wanted to rush, I wanted to not only have that support system and have those sisters who I would always have a bond to, but I also wanted to grow as an individual and get out of my comfort zone. I wanted to experience new things, meet new people and learn what strengths I have and to gain more confidence in myself. I wanted to do it for me. I wanted to grow. I wanted to shape my life in a positive manner. I wanted to gain more strength, more happiness, more adventure and more self-confidence.

Spring of 2015, I went through informal recruitment and I’m not going to lie, the process was scary, exciting, nerve-racking and positive all at the same time. I got to talk some really amazing girls and even though I wasn’t a part of the sisterhood, I felt like I was a part of something bigger than myself. I am a friendly person and I am not shy once you get to know me. However, until that point, I can be very quiet, which if you ask anyone that knows me really well, I am not a quite girl. During the recruitment process, though, I wasn’t as quiet as I expected I would be. Right off the bat I was able to have some great conversations and I was able to make real connections with the girls I spoke to. While I did go to a handful of houses, there was only one that I felt truly at home in. As cliché as this may sound, you really do find your home and your place where you feel like you do belong. I know that AOII was my home for multiple reasons. There was a lot of diversity in the girls that I had talked to, the opportunities that they offered for helping the community and bettering the chapter as amazing, the philanthropy was close to my heart and just the girls were interested in getting to know me. Their enthusiasm and kindness stuck with me and made me want to be a part of AOII. Even though I have only been in a sorority a year and a half now, I have gained so many things that I want to share with you.

I have gained a support system. No matter what I am going through, I know that I have sisters who will be there to help me out in any way that they can, just as I would do anything I could for them. There has been countless times that a sister has lent a helping hand to another sister in our sorority or there have been cases where someone is just having a bad day and needs a pick-me-up. If I am on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and I notice that someone is having a bad day or is stressed, I try my best to comment or send them a tweet with an encouraging message. The little things like that make all the difference.

I have gained a Little and more importantly a best friend. My little has been such a big blessing in my life. She’s brought me out of shell, has excepted me for all my flaws and has supported me through everything. She accepts me as a person and pushes me to be better. She makes me want to be the best role model that I can be for her and for others in my life. She’s my best friend, my sister and my Little. She’s become my family away from home and since she is from my hometown, she is my little reminder of St. Mary’s County when I am away. Without her, my AOII experience wouldn’t be the same.

I have learned that it’s okay to not be perfect. To say that I am a perfectionist would be an understatement. I push myself way to hard sometimes and stress about the little things in the life that don’t matter in the long run. People make mistakes, sometimes you just have bad or off days and we all experience stress at one time or another, but it’s okay. It’s okay to sit back and enjoy the ride a little bit. School is important, yes, but taking care of yourself is also important.

I have gained confidence and a better understanding of myself. I doubt myself a lot in school, in what I want to do and what I can accomplish. Throughout the recruitment process, I gained confidence in myself and now I feel more comfortable talking to people I may not know. I have also gained a better understanding of myself. I know my likes and dislikes, what makes me happy, what motivates me, what inspires me and what is important to me. Being with so many different girls opens up your mind to new concepts and ideas, but at the same time, it reinforces those concrete aspects that make you who you are.

I have gained a greater appreciation for the West Virginia community both on and off campus. Community service is such a rewarding experience, no matter where you lend a helping hand. Through the community service opportunities that AOII has offered me, I have gained a greater appreciation for the West Virginia community. Spending your weekend with your sisters and other Greek life members helping those in the community makes you feel amazing and makes you feel like you’re a part of the community. No matter how big or small the task, everything helps the community around you and it’s important to give back.

Though these are only some of the highlights of what I have learned and gained through my time in my sorority, there are so many other aspects I could talk about. Whether you are in a sorority or you are considering rushing, just know how much you’re about to grow as individual during your journey. No matter what letters you wear or what school you go to, your sorority becomes a part of you and the experiences help shape you.