When I first joined my sisterhood, Kappa Phi, I could not wait to finally be matched with a Big. During Big-Little Reveal week, I could hardly contain my excitement to begin a friendship with my Big, whoever that might be.
After three agonizing weeks of passing the pledge exam, taking the Degree of the Pine and the Degree of the Light, I finally had the chance to see who my Big would be.
Little did I know, this friendship would indeed become a sisterhood that changed my life forever. Not only did I have a group of young college woman beside me, striving to be the best lights in the darkness, showing the love of Christ in every way they could, I also had a big sister who now guides me in my faith. She is my break from the world when it becomes too much to bear, giving me scripture to hold onto and encouragement to keep my spirits up throughout the week.
From a simple Sonic run for a late night snack, to letting me crash on her couch after a day of stressful exams, my Big is always there. She has taught me to be a leader in this sisterhood, as I took as office as treasurer within my second semester. She taught me to put others first, even if its the last thing I want to do. Through bible study and discipleship, she has helped mold me into the college woman I am today.
And, my favorite favorite weekly ritual we do together is attend church. Every Sunday, we worship, pray, and study God's Word as sisters. Its something so simple, yet it is what determines the tone of my week. Its our time to take a break from our phones, texts, Facebook, Twitter, homework, classes, work -- any distraction that normally consumes our lives during the week, and we just focus on our Savior.
This next month, I will become a Big. I will no longer just be Caitlyn's Little, but I will be someone's Big. I will become a mentor, a sister, a fellow sister in Christ and a friend to one of my Kappa Phi sisters. What a joy it will be to experience all of the memories as a Big, guiding the faith of someone else. Loving a young woman, who is trying to be the best version of themselves through the love of Christ and the love of the sisterhood that is Kappa Phi. What a blessing this moment will be, and I can't enjoy it without first thanking my Big who has taught me everything I know about Kappa Phi and about being the best version of myself for my future Little.