Explaining the concept of a "Big" to non-Greek individuals is nearly impossible, but those of us in sororities have a concise mental picture when we hear the word. My Big is my role model, my favorite person in the world and the one that I turn to whenever I need support. My Big means the universe to me.

Taking on the role of a Big is no laughing matter. Once you become a Big, you are everything I just mentioned and more to somebody. You are your Little's person, her one to go to in times of need, her mentor throughout college and ideally the rest of her life. You are a best friend and a biggest fan. 

In college, other than being a student, I'll never have a more important job than being a big. Here is what I want my little to know...

Dear Little, 

I was obsessed with you before I even knew you. Totally creepy, right? But it's so true. Before I was even aware of potential Little suitors, I loved you. I thought of ways to spoil you and I procrastinated important things I should have been doing with looking up Pinterest ideas for your baskets. I loved you then, and I love you even more now that there's a face to the idea.

I promise I'll always be there for you when you need me. At 2 p.m. or 2 a.m., I'll be the one you can call, that you can turn to, that you can trust with your life. I promise to never judge you or criticize you, but to be the most understanding person in your life.

I promise to stick it out until the end. There's nothing in this world you could do that would ever make me not want to be your Big. Through hell and high water, I will see every little argument through, and we'll laugh about it when it's all said and done (and eat lots of cookies, of course).

Which brings me to this...I promise to be the one to eat all the cookie dough with you, to bake too many cupcakes with, to lay in bed (when we should be doing something productive) and eat pizza with all night. I'll agree with you when you say "Calories don't count, right?", but proceed to go on a power walk the next day to ease our guilt, slightly.

I promise to tell you when you're being stupid, and I know you'll do the same for me. I promise to be your voice of reason, to pick you up when you're down and to answer every cry for help you bring forth. I promise to protect you, to hate all the same people you hate and to talk you out of every bad idea you come up with (I might need that a little more than you do, though....)

I promise to be your best friend. Every moment spent uncontrollably laughing, snuggling and watching Netflix, talking until 3 am...I promise to be that person for you each and every day, because you are that person for me.

Love,

Your Big