To my fellow Alpha Chis,

Go Greek! If you've heard it once, you've heard it a million times; "It'll be the best decision you'll ever make!"

The day I stepped foot onto CMU's campus, I knew I had to see what all the rave was about. Little did I know that filling out the registration and paying my $60.00 entry fee would change my life forever.

The only thing I had in mind when deciding to go through recruitment was to find a strong sisterhood, and fortunately enough, at Meet the Greeks, every chapter promised me that they had the strongest sisterhood on campus. Every chapter assured me that they couldn't see themselves anywhere else, and every chapter stood by the motto "It was the best decision they had ever made."

So here I was, even more, lost than before. The only word of advice I ever received was to, "Just trust the system," and I had absolutely no idea what that meant.

But that is what I did. Skeptical, and still a little unsure of what to do, I 'trusted the system' or whatever that meant.

When I opened my envelope on Bid Day and read my invitation to join the Delta Zeta Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega, I had no idea what that would mean for my future, but I knew that I couldn't wait to find out.

When I jumped off the stage that day and was greeted with hugs, tears, and an undeniable support system, that was the moment I knew I was home. It was the first day I ever wore those three letters 'AXO' across my chest, and I couldn't be happier knowing that I'll be able to do so for the remainder of my life.

Being an Alpha Chi has already obliterated all expectations I had for joining the Greek Community. Never did I think I would have such a strong love for the colors Red and Green, never did I think I would have 100+ women standing behind me no matter what I choose to do in life, and never did I think I would find a home within a sorority of such inspiring, hilarious, strong women, but here I am.

They told me before recruitment that first you are a part of it, first a part of Greek Life, and then eventually, it will become a part of you. In just these first short months of being apart of Alpha Chi Omega, it has found such a big place in my heart. My love for my sisters, for the organization, and for the connections it has created, grows stronger each and every day, and now I can join the thousands in saying it truly was the best decision I ever made.

Why do I love Alpha Chi? I simply cannot imagine being apart from any other chapter or being a member of any other new member class. In my time as an Alpha Chi, I have found my best friends. The one's I can call up at any hour of the day to rant to, to eat with, and to ask where and when I'm supposed to be somewhere. I've found the one's who will give me a ride when I'm too lazy to walk a block to the house, the one's who will smuggle food out of the caf with me and the one's who never fail to make me laugh. I've found the girl's who have seen me at my worst and still show their face with me in public, who will stand up for me to anyone, even if I am completely wrong, and the one's who at the end of the day will always share the same values that I withhold.

I cannot believe that the week has come, to finally become an active member of Alpha Chi Omega. It seems as if it was just yesterday I was jumping off that stage into the arms of my sisters, and yet this organization has already given me so much. It's given me my best friends, my future roommates, memories that will last a lifetime, and a better understanding of myself. I cannot say enough about how blessed I have been being invited into this crazy sisterhood, and I know as I get further into my membership in the chapter, my love for it will only grow.

What a ride it has been already, I can't wait to see where this journey takes me.

With Love Always,

Your Sister Cassie