To my past self:

The one who hasn't been through recruitment yet, the one who has no idea what to expect. Thank you. Thank you for sticking through the long, hot days of recruitment. Thank you for being mindless but determined to find where I belong. I know you had no idea what to expect, and that was a pretty scary feeling to have.

One year later, sitting here while I'm hours away from my return to Pullman, I realize how lucky I am to have found my home. This past year has been full of friends that will last a lifetime. Friends, I mean sisters, that I may have never met if something so unique as our organization didn't bring us together. We have been through experiences I never knew I would encounter and have had more than a lifetime full of love packed into one big house. I have never felt so belonging to an organization than I do to my own. The funny fact is, is that I had no idea what I was in for going into formal recruitment, but everyone constantly told me that I would end up where I belong.

I couldn't stress more that this is so true. Last year, at this time, all I thought about sororities was that I would be meeting a bunch of girls who had some things in common with me. I did not, however, expect to embark on this incredible journey that I did, creating memories with such amazing people. From our first date dash in early October to the Senior night where we sent off our graduates, I have had a heavy heart for my sorority sisters. I have come to realize that they aren't just people I have stuff in common with, they have experienced things with me that I haven't with anyone else. I never knew I could grow so close to such a big group of girls, in such a short amount of time. It is an ideal situation to go into a big school, and find you friends right off the bat. It's almost an unreal experience that you don't even know where you're going until you start.

Other than new experiences, my fellow sisters have made it the best year due to all the certain circumstances that we've been through. I don't think I could've gotten through some of this year without their uplifting presence. Whether it was our sisterhood where we had to walk a mile to Martin Stadium in the pouring rain, that no one wanted to do or the times where I was feeling so homesick I thought I would never come back to school, they were there to tell me I was dumb. I couldn't have done it without them. I also don't know if I've ever met a group of people who would instantly pick me up from where I was when I needed a ride. Being car-less can suck Freshman year, but whether it was someone in my Pledge Class, or someone older, there was always someone to help when I needed. Not to mention, if you type SOS on our Facebook group, you will get a response within the next 30 seconds. It truly helps to have 200 girls constantly on their phones when you need them to save your butt.

Overall, I am thankful that I went through Formal Recruitment when I did. I did not expect to be able to lean on 50+ girls when I needed it, and be able to laugh when I needed someone to laugh with while running 10 minutes late to class. There is truly no other way I would've liked to enter my college years, and I can't wait to reunite and create even more memories with such special people. Living in a house with 50+ girls could not have had a better anticipation, and I honestly cannot wait for the crazy memories we will make.

Now, as I go back to school, I can't help but smile at the fact that so many girls will embark on the same journey I did. Hold on tight ladies; you are in for a good ride.