The start of my sophomore year of college was not good for me. My mom had just been diagnosed with breast cancer, my first serious relationship was just ending and I was starting my music education classes. Pretty intense stuff for a 19 year old.

Every semester, Fredonia has an Activities Night, where each club sets up a table and tries to get people to sign up and join (and a lot of them have free candy, which is always a bonus). During that fall semester, my friends and I were walking around, looking at the tables, and a then-acquaintance of mine called me over to Sigma Alpha Iota’s table. “You should sign up,” she told me, so I did.

I was almost hesitant as I went through the process of joining. It seemed like a major time commitment, and I didn’t really know a lot of the girls, except the girl who told me to sign up and my Big. But soon, after some hardcore studying with my Big and passing the national exam, I was a sister. A full-fledged member of Sigma Alpha Iota. Honestly, I don’t know why I ever doubted it. I’m so in love with this fraternity that I even have a tattoo based on our motto.

Joining Sigma Alpha Iota provided me with something that wasn’t music classes. Yes, we all have a sincere interest in music, but we show that through providing community service and performing for each other. Having a chance to share with people something you’re extremely passionate about is refreshing, especially when you’ve been sitting in classes all week trying to concentrate.

Joining SAI has given me the chance to have leadership roles. Being in music school, it’s hard to join other clubs and be a leader within them when you’re stuck in the same building for hours at a time. But being in SAI, I was able to be on the executive board, and even have the opportunity to teach my Littles (or Members-in-Training) about who we are and what we do as a fraternity. Having the chance to be a leader in some way was so satisfying and will look pretty great on a resume some day (just another small perk about joining SAI).

Joining SAI has provided the chance to be a professional individual and grow as an adult. We are a professional fraternity, after all. SAI has basically taught me what dressing professionally looks like, how to write emails properly and how to act professionally in meetings. Basically, it taught me how to be a professional adult. And boy, when we have our business meetings, we all look fabulous.

But in all reality, joining SAI gave me a family of wonderful sisters. My sisters are all so intelligent, talented, kind, generous and hilarious. These are friends I can turn to when I need a good laugh or when I need a shoulder to cry on. Sitting in the office, grabbing Starbucks and food, and even sitting in meetings is always fun when I’m with them. I got to meet so many great girls that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. We all have a strong bond, and it’s through our love of music that we all have such a strong connection. In this fraternity, I have found a group that will always be in my heart, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Credit to Jess Mayor for this amazing logo for our chapter.