It has officially been a year since I "adopted" my second little into my family, and a year and a half since my very first big/little reveal, where I sat, smiling and red-faced, behind my own poster board for once. My littles have been my best friends, my motivators, and, honestly, they've been the reason I have made some pretty great changes in my life.

So often you will see articles from littles to their big, thanking them for always being there for them, or letters from a big to her littles, where the big gushes, smiling from ear to ear, over how much love her heart contains for her additions to the fam. And this is different, but important nonetheless, because my littles (and yours too, I'm sure) are really the ones who taught me lessons in friendship, love, and keeping hope even in my darkest hours. So, littles, if you're reading this, this is what I've learned from you.

1. Always do that which you're not sure you can do.

Little, you encouraged me to apply for several internships, jobs, positions, and everything else under the sun, and you have supported me through every rejection email and cheered me on for every position I was offered, even when I wasn't sure I was the right person for the job. Because of this, I have been able to become a better woman, create a more well-rounded resume, and most of all, I've been able to share a million more experiences with you. And to think that a year and a half ago, I wasn't sure I'd be able to be a good big...

2. Boys are stupid, but girlfriends will hurt you too.

For years, boys have broken our hearts and torn us apart, and we've stood by each other willingly. However, the things that have hurt us the most are when we anger each other and don't talk for days because we're both acting too ridiculous to forgive each other. I'm thankful for every time that you have chosen to forgive me or allowed me to forgive you instead of ever trying to find another "unofficial" big or removing yourself from my family. Because losing you as my little would hurt, but losing you would be intolerable.

3. Never settle for less than your best.

Dear lord, how thankful I am for this lesson. Time and time again, you have told me when someone wasn't treating me the way I was supposed to be treated and you have pushed me through some hard situations. In the end, I have always come out unscathed, because you have taught me that I am worth a lot more than I give myself credit for.

4. Chapters are for more than keeping up with sorority news, they're an opportunity to catch up with everyone.

Before you, little, I would go to chapter happily and chat with the girls who sat in front of me and behind me, making sheepish small talk while everyone else I knew did the same. I know you, so I'm sure my last chapter played out something like this: I was in my spot in line for chapter, and you came running in, probably a little bit late, and as soon as you saw me, you ran right on up to me and gave me a hug, chattering away with everyone around us, smiling and asking me how my week was. Little, because of you, chapter is so much more than a meeting. I love seeing you at the exact same time each week and catching up, even on our busiest days.

5. It's not awkward to reach out to anyone in your sisterhood... ever.

Seriously, trying to talk to you as a new member was the most awkward thing. I remember sitting at my computer thinking "well, we talked at bid day for like two minutes and took a picture together, I guess that means I can send her a Facebook message... even though I totally have her number, because all sisters get new members' numbers." Well, obviously, that turned out well. So for the past year, I've tried to live by the motto that it's actually not that awkward. I mean, as long as I don't make it awkward, that is.

6. Shakespeare had something right when he said "Double (Double, Toil and) Trouble."

Who in their right mind ever thought that twins should be a thing? Why would someone take two littles? Oh, that's right—because some of us are just a little crazy. And by some of us, I mean me. I'm a little crazy. Having two littles has certainly caused a few gray hairs (but only because you encouraged me to dye it blonde that one time and some of my hairs just were stripped of color altogether), but I wouldn't change it for anything. You both offer me so much individually and together, and to be honest, we take the cutest photos ever.

Seriously, why did I need two of you with this much dysfunction already?

7. Being a good friend is hard—being a great friend is harder.

Being a good friend takes a lot of work—you want to make sure you're always there for your friends and that you support them through everything. Being a great friend means doing all of that and also letting you know when your decisions aren't necessarily the best for you, even if they are everything that you want. I want you to be happy and to find success in this world, and I'm sorry for every time I have been forced to disagree with you because someone was not worth your time (see lesson number two... and number three). I hope you know that I will always be on your side in every argument, dismissal, and everything else, but I also be on your side even when your own head and heart are working against you.

8. Support, support, support.

There just honestly are too many words to really say how grateful I am to have the two of you. The support and love and respect I have received from you is more than I have ever received from anyone else in my life, and I know it's because the bond between a big and little is so much more than a mentorship or being best friends—it's about being each other's person in every situation, forever and always.

9. New additions to the family won't weaken a great bond.

You were there for me when I finally freaked out because you told me you'd both been nominated to be someone's big. I was terrified that when you got your own littles, you'd stop caring about me as your big, and care more about being a big. I was bummed out for days, trying to hide it because I also wanted to be so, so, so excited for you, but my anxiety about the situation kept getting in the way.

I'm happy to say that it hasn't changed a thing about our friendship, and in fact, now I have two g-littles who call me Geeb (because Grand-Big just sounds like an uncomfortable Sunday Dinner surrounded by porcelain dolls), and I couldn't be happier with the girls you've invited into our family. It never changed a thing, except that it make my heart grow just a little bigger.

10. Family can be so much more than just the people you grew up with.

This last point is so important. I picked a college almost three hours away from home, and so did the two of you (funny how things work out), but I have never felt like I am without a family while I'm here. You, your littles, and our whole sorority sisterhood bring such joy to this campus and I couldn't be more thankful for all the memories we've made. Thanks for being my home away from home. Love you always.