My junior year in Tri Delta I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to serve as one of the new member educators. I just knew I had the best job! Thankfully, I was right, in my opinion. I got to be friends with all of the newest members and teach them every day about Tri Delta and why I love it here.

Welcoming 121 new members on bid day as they came running from the Lyceum was the most heartwarming feeling. These girls were about to embark and begin their journey as a Tri Delt just like I had three years before. They didn't know what would hit them, I thought. Tri Delta and I were going to rock their world. Little did I know, they rocked mine.

I've always been the type to love being an older example for others. In high school I liked pairing up with the freshman as their buddy, having big sis/little sis on the cheer squad, and more. I felt like this job was kind of like that. This was no high school cheer squad match-up, this was finding some of my very best friends.

Through being a new member educator, I realized how important it is to invest in the younger members of my sorority. Everyone comes in pretty clueless, even about things that seem so simple, like meal times. 

Being a senior, I realize that the girls in this chapter that are younger than me are the ones that the chapter is left to. Once my pledge class is gone, it's up to the younger members to continue loving this place we all called home for four years. As hard as it is to leave, I know that these girls will continue bringing this chapter up and holding true to what Tri Delta stands for. 

Age is only a number, they said. I agree. The freshman pledge class of 2013 rocked my world and taught me about love, self-sacrifice, friendship, and trust. I challenge everyone to not just look past the younger girls in your sorority, but to scoop them up and help them, teach them, and make sure they're always going great. 

Through investing in the younger members, our hard work of four years will pay off when we see them excel and lead. So, cheers to you, you younger members! You've got the world at your feet and a sorority waiting to build you up. Lean on the older girls, they're here to help and love you.