When you walk onto Bethany College campus, it’s no surprise how important Greek life is to the students on campus. Coming in as a freshman living so far away from home, I was terrified out of my mind wondering who I was going to go to when I was having problems or even when I got home sick. One day, I was in the café with my roommate and all the Greeks where in there sitting at the tables that their houses use. Seeing how close everyone was, and the bonds they had with each other, I knew I wanted to be a part of one of those houses.

When it came time for formal recruitment it was one of the most stressful times of my freshman year due to track practices just starting, and trying to adjust to being busy all the time. Going from house to house, and talking to all the girls, was overwhelming. Then I found the house I knew I wanted to be a part of. When I walked in to Alpha Xi Delta, I felt like I was at home. All the girls were very friendly, and I could talk to them for hours -- I was actually almost left by my group because I was talking and didn’t know they left.

On the day of bid night, all the girls were wearing their house's shirts; I remember being so nervous not knowing if a house was going to pick me, and which house might pick me, because I really hoped it was Alpha Xi. When I finally found out what house picked me, I was so happy I started to cry. Running out of the wellness center to the girls in my house was one of my favorite freshmen year moments. I ran straight in to the arms of the girl who would soon be my big. Running up to the house after everyone found out what house they were in was being on pure adrenaline. That night is a night that I will remember forever, especially in the following months every time I was having a problem or just needed a friend my sisters were there for me.

Here it is, a year later and my bond with my sisters is still strong, even though I’m not a part of my house right now. My sisters still talk to me and our brother house, Sigma Nu, still talk to me and consider me their sister. Leaving the house wasn’t an easy decision. I was actually scared out of my mind that they were all going to shun me and never talk to me, but I was wrong. My twin still thinks of me as her twin, and my pseudo big still loves me like her little.

I’m not promoting joining Greek life and then leaving, by any means. I’m simply saying joining it was one of the best decisions of my life. I will always consider the girls of Alpha Xi Delta my sisters, and remember all the fun times we had together for freshman year. Thank you for showing me and helping me understand the true meaning of TFJ. For that, my heart will forever be double blue and gold.