Joining a sorority has been one of the most memorable, challenging, exciting, and fulfilling parts of my college career as well as the last few years of my life. These girls have seen me through my best and my worst; from mental breakdowns over exams and the future, to late nights that I’d rather never talk about again, to gaining amazing opportunities, learning about new parts of the world and most importantly new parts of myself. This is my thank you letter to all of you.
To the girl who “preffed” me:
Before going through recruitment, I didn’t know anyone in greek life, not a single person. I had friends who had gone to school down south (where Greek Life is all but a lifestyle), but I had no idea how Greek Life, recruitment, or sorority life worked at a small northern school. You made me feel immediately comfortable. Whether it was making sure I knew that I could sit down or knew that I didn’t have jump through hoops to talk to you. You made me feel like I belonged. You made me feel at home. We talked about One Tree Hill and our love for New Orleans, you impressed me and inspired me the minute I walked into the room. You made me want to be more than I was and showed me just how amazing this organization is. You were the first person that I connected with inside this sorority and I will never be able to repay you for all that you have given me.
To my New Member Educator:
“Mom” as you are fondly known as by my class. You gave me some of my very best friends. You taught us to respect each other and the older sisters. You taught us the importance of the history that we were about to become apart of and the importance of upholding the legacy that was being left in our hands. I’ll never forget the first words you said to us or the way you have been with all of us every step of the way, from new members to sisters to bigs you have always been behind us, reminding us that the most important thing will always be each other. You may have graduated years ago, but your legacy lives on in all of us.
To my Big:
Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. You are my biggest inspiration, my biggest fan and hardest critique. You remind me what’s important, you remind me to stay true to myself, and you remind me that I have come so much further than I think. From our first conversation about puppies and cheese to our rooftop dates, FaceTime calls, and Snapchat streaks, you have become one of my best friends. From the moment I met you, I was obsessed, not because you were beautiful or fashionable (which you are and it’s just obnoxious at this point), but because you inspired me. You were what I wanted to be and you still are.
To my Little:
Thank you for always making me laugh, for reminding me that the world is so much bigger than my small little portion of it, and for always being there when I need to just talk. Our Thursday lunches are the highlight of my week, and I hate the idea of graduating and leaving you. You make me want to be a better person, a better sister, you make me want to leave the chapter better than I found it so it’s better for you and for all the future members of our family tree.
To my Class:
Where do I even start? You guys are my whole world. I don’t know how I would have gotten through college without you. From late nights, to early mornings, to running across campus, to long summers apart, fall reunions, formals and semi formals, graduations, tears, and tons and tons of laughter, you guys have been there through it all. We are so different, from our height to our hometowns, to our shapes, hair colors, majors, backgrounds and everything in between, and yet we still manage to find things to laugh and be passionate about. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for all of it.
To my Sorority:
Past and present sisters included, thank you for always being there to grab lunch, go to the city, and vent about life and all of its struggles. Thank you for exposing me to all different sides of myself and of the world. Thank you for accepting and loving me when lord knows you didn’t have to. Thank you for putting up with me through every late night and every long day. Thank you for inspiring me to be the highest type of womanhood, and thank you for making me proud to be your sister.
You girls have made these past few years some of the greatest of my life so far. If it wasn’t for this organization I probably never would have met most of you, I never would have known what it was like to feel the support of over 60 girls, I never would have known what it was like to want to see a group of girls succeed so badly that you would stay up all night, make tough decisions and put them before yourself. I appreciate you girls more than you will ever know and thanks for everything.
Featured Image via maddie_reneee
