My big sister and my Big are two of the most important women in my life. They are beautiful, inspiring and two of my best friends. They’ve helped me out through college’s ups and downs and I can count on either of them to rush over when I need to rant about that test or this text. They’ll hold me while I cry about anything and everything, they’ll be there for all the big moments in my life, and they are each a sister to me in different ways; and the best sisters I’ll ever have. Yet, there are key differences in each of our relationships.

I’ve been sister’s pain in the ass for about 20 years now, and it has truly been an honor. She’s tricked me, picked on me, and bickered with me in the back of the Ford Tarus on our way to visit family. Don’t get me wrong, I used to lay on the ground and scream that she pushed me just to get her in trouble, but I truly adore my big sister. She’s a senior at Ohio State and despite being on the complete other side of campus and crazy busy with TA-ing, interning, and being an engineering student, I know she’d drop anything if I needed her. When she’s not busy doing schoolwork, dancing, or doing funky nail art; I know she’ll always make sure to reach out and see if I’m free. From putting up lights in my room, to throwing awesome parties, to simple Panera dates, my big sister and I always have a blast together.

When it came time to choose my big in my sorority, I wrote down the qualities I wanted in my Big. Interestingly enough, most of the qualities were those I found in my big sister. Loyal, honest, funny, supportive, loving, and an all-around role model. I found all of this in my Big.

I met my Big on Philanthropy round of recruitment. From Preference onward, we became inseparable. After a week of lies, confusion, and tons of presents, I ended up being able to call my “rush crush” my Big, and she’s truly felt like a sister to me. She lives about five minutes away, and is always down to watch a movie or eat my kitchen creations. We walk to chapter together, we gossip together, and we’re constantly sending each other outfits asking “Is this okay? Which one?” We suffered through one of the hardest classes ever together, we grab Starbucks before recruitment events and have truly become #BigLittleGoals (she’s probably cringing at that hashtag right now). She’s a political science and communications double major, and she’s always slaying the internship game. She’s a writer, passionate, fashionable, funny, caring, and extraordinarily dedicated to me and our sorority. My Big has truly exemplified what a sorority woman can be and has shaped me into the sorority woman I am today.

Both my older sister and my big are supportive. While my Big may not be able to quote Spongebob religiously and my big sister has no idea what a Bump Group is, these ladies are truly my family. Sure, they are different kinds of family, and sisterhood may be different than sibling-hood, but both of my sisters have taught me some great lessons, always been there for me, and have become inspirational in their academic and career successes so far. To both of my “biggies” thank you for everything. Thank you for always being there for me, thank you for the inspiration, and cheers to the many more years of laughter and love to come.