Congratulations! You have just accepted an invitation to a sisterhood that will live with you forever. You are now a member of not just the thousands of women who make up your individual organization, but the millions of woman who make up the National Panhellenic Council. You will never be alone, you will have a connection with almost every woman you meet for the rest of your life. I hope you're excited! As I look back at the first year of my membership, I came up with three keys points to help you make the most of your experience in a sorority for your first year.

Utilize every opportunity

Being in a sorority will open you up to a whole new world of possibilities and opportunities. Anything from leadership, to spiritual, to personal growth. If you take the opportunity to learn from older members, go to conferences such as UIFI, and apply for positions within your chapter, you will become a completely better version of yourself within the next calendar year.

Build life long friendships.

Get to know the women in your new member class. Get to know your older members. Get to know your alumnae. These women will be your friends for life. These are the women you will depend of for years to come - your bridesmaids, your childrens' aunts, your best friends. The alumnae you meet will be your best professional references and are most of the time involved, directly or indirectly, in the same fields you are.

It's not for four years, it's for life.

You'll hear this a lot in your undergraduate experience as a collegiate woman. And just like these women you meet in your sisterhood will be your friends for life, they will also not forget you. The women who make up your sisterhood will be with you for life. And as morbid as it sounds, even when you die.

Again, congratulations! Millions of women will tell you that becoming Greek and accepting their bid was the best thing that ever happened to them. You only get to be a collegiate member for a few short year, so make the most of it! You go sister!