It wasn’t some magical moment when we first met that made me want to be your big sister, or a random connection made by our social lives. In all honesty (and sincerity), I still have no clue why I wanted to be your big. I just knew that I needed to be.

Needed is a strong word. It’s not like I had an undying urge to mentor you and become a mother hen right when I met you, rather, I felt like I wanted to get to know you better and gain a friend, who just so happens needs my mentoring just a little bit. Yet, just because of my mentor position, it doesn't mean that I didn't learn anything about myself during this past year. I gained so much insight about myself and received my own personal guru for life. I think many sorority sisters don’t realize how much they need a little until they get one. Of course, you have your own big sisters and luckily, I got the best. Your big sisters are there to guide you and spoil you, but what happens when they graduate or when you try to find yourself within your organization?

That’s where getting a little helped me. I was struggling with my life, with the decisions in and out of sorority that I had to make. Once I got a little I knew I needed to become more active in all aspects of my life. I not only wanted to impress my little, but also impress my entire chapter. Littles have a way of making you want to be a better sorority sister and person. Maybe now I can understand how my mom feels about my brother and I.

So it went: acquaintances, sisters, big and little, friends, and now best friends. We have passed the awkward phases where I would make her a million crafts and speak close to ten words to her. We have been through the rituals and sorority life that ties our bond. We have cried and laughed and learned things about each other we probably shouldn’t have. We have stories that we will remember forever and memories that are so hilarious that they sound fake. So much has happened since February 23, 2016. I have gained a little sister to mentor and support, through the bad decisions just as much as the good ones. I have a best friend who loves guacamole and taking naps, just as much as me. I have someone to send ugly Snapchats to and direct message puppy videos on Twitter. Basically, what I am saying is, I found someone who is just as strange as me.

Taking a little sister is a huge responsibility. This past week I watched as 19 new members received their bigs. The stressful suite, filled with screams and tears, made me reminiscent of last year’s ceremony. I cannot wait to watch these new relationships build and form into a beautiful pairing of big and little. Whether they stay at the surface and focus solely on giving a helping hand through the little’s first semester in the sorority, or delve a little deeper into life in general, I know all of the new big little pairings will be successful and strong.