Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been the one to keep to myself. I was never really good at shallow conversations, or very trendy either. I knew going into college that I was going to have to leave my old friends behind, and learn to make new ones. But I come from such a small town, that the friends I had in my elementary school classes, were the same friends I had in high school.
After applying to colleges, and choosing the best fit for me I came to the realization again that I would have to learn to leap out of my comfort zone and make new friends. College is so much different than your small town high school. College has students from every corner of this country, and the next! Its a bigger environment and has way more people.
As my first couple days of my freshman year went by, I learned where I really wanted my career to take me. I noticed guys, and girls in ABUs (Airman Battle Uniforms) walking around my campus. I have always been the type to give the shirt off my back to someone if it meant I could help him or her out in some small way, even if I couldn’t afford much more than that at the time. Helping others has always been a passion of mine, and that’s what drove me largely into the medical field. But as I saw those cadets walking down the sidewalk I realized I had a bigger calling. So I headed into my classes, wide eyed and determined to take on anything thrown at me.
As weeks went by, I started to notice groups of two or three girls walking around campus with letter shirts on. I didn’t know what the letters stood for because at the time I couldn’t read Greek. These girls were so put together with their hair done, makeup done, and outfits so nicely matched. They looked so welcoming, dying for the chance to talk to someone about the organization. When I got back to my room I decided to look up what organization it was. They were Chi Omega’s.
I have heard many great things about Greek life from friends in different sororities, but I also had many preconceived ideas about sororities in general. At first I was skeptical. I never thought of myself as a sorority girl, especially now after deciding that ABUs were what I was destined to wear for the rest of my life. I wasn’t as put together, or outgoing as those girls seemed to be, and I didn’t think I would fit in but I decided to give it a try anyway.
I signed up for recruitment. I was nervous, and skeptical to find out what the hype was all about. The entire time I was amazed at how easy meaningful conversations came to me. And at the end of the week, I found out I had received a bid back from Chi Omega! I was ecstatic but extremely nervous at the same time. Still, in the back of my mind I knew that I needed to break out of my shell but for me, that was difficult. So, I accepted the bid.
Since then, I have learned that the things I am passionate about most of my sisters are as well, such as serving this great country or helping others. I know I have made memories that I will never forget. I know I have met people who I will talk to for the rest of my life. I cannot see myself being apart of any other organization than Chi Omega. This group of girls are truly family, sisters, and I would not change it for anything. I trust these girls with all my heart and know that if I needed anything, they would be there ready to help. In a few short months I had gone from a skeptic to a believer. A sorority is not something you are in for just four years; it's something you are in for the rest of your life. And my life is so much more amazing with my sisters in it!