I didn’t know what to expect when I went through recruitment my freshman year. I knew that I wanted to branch out from high school cliques and find my home away from home. I wanted to join a group of girls that valued friendship and had the same morals and beliefs as myself. After joining Chi Omega, I knew I found just that.

Since Bid Day when I walked on Chi Omega’s lawn I was welcomed with open arms and smiling faces. Although these girls were strangers to me, I had no idea the impact they would soon have on my life. A big sister, a study buddy, a shoulder to cry on, and girls that I could rely on not just during my time in college, but for many years to come.

I knew that my freshman year of college was going to be an adjustment from high school. I was nervous about the college courses that I was taking and making new friends with people that weren’t from my hometown. Chi Omega made these challenges faced easy and simple. 

I was amazed by the amount of support from upperclassmen and girls that I didn’t even know. Coming from an all-girl high school, I assumed that a sorority would be similar to the cliques and hierarchy from seniors to freshman that I had known so well the past four years. 

But here, there was always a friendly face around that wanted to offer help to me in any way possible. Whether it be helping me with a class, showing me around the campus, or offering me a place to sleep at the Chi O house. After being a member of Chi Omega for a few short months it had become very clear that we were truly sisters.     

By the end of my freshman year I was anxious to go home for the summer to get away from tests and homework for a while. After being at home for a couple of weeks, I found myself counting down the days to go back to my college town to be reunited with my sisters again. Each day that passed was just one day closer to going back to the Chi Omega house. I could see my parents getting frustrated with me because I was looking forward to going back to school everyday instead of taking the summer to spend time with my family.      

As a junior this year, I am still surprised by the amount of unconditional love and support from my sisters. Our symphony, which was spoken to me on preference day my freshman year, is no longer words on a piece of paper. Each line resembles our chapter as a whole and has impacted my life in one way or another. Our songs have become something of importance to me that I can treasure and share with my daughter in the future. 

This past year on preference day I took the opportunity to look around the room at my sisters. At that moment, I realized how blessed I truly am to have 200 plus sisters in my life. Sisters that I have stayed up late talking with on a school night, gone out on spontaneous adventurous with, and with whom I have laughed and cried.These are the memories that I will think about when I look back on my college experience.  

Although I only have two more years of school left, I know that I am not just a Chi Omega during my time in college but for the rest of my life. I have made lifelong friendships in my sorority that I will hold near and dear to my heart forever. I went into college hoping to make new friends and I have found my future bridesmaids. This group of women has made me feel a part of something that is bigger than myself. My life would not be complete without the memories and friendships I have made in this sisterhood. I now know that Chi Omega isn’t something that I have become, but it's something that I have always been.