Joining a sorority is great, but getting a Big Sister is even greater! When I went through recruitment and joined my sorority, I was unbearably awkward. When I got my Big, I was still very awkward. I always imagined that getting a Little would be a painful experience for the uncomfortable wallflower that I am. Yet, here is exactly how it went.

Stage 1: "This Is Awkward"

Finally, the night you’ve both been waiting for, Big Little Reveal. The anticipation has been building all week as you mysteriously left secretive messages to your Little hoping to throw her off your tracks. Yet, as you reveal yourself to your Little and her squeals and giggles cannot be contained, you begin to wonder, “Is she a Little (see what I did there?) let down?” Nevertheless, you continue with the giddiness and hope for the best. This stage is full of throwing what you know in pictures with your Little and poorly planned candid laughing pictures. See the picture above if you don’t believe it.

Stage 2: "I Want To Impress Her"

Weeks into the relationship and you soon realize you have to impress her. Nobody wants to be that Big. The Big who is lame; the party pooper Big, if you will. So instead, you start over-crafting and leaving things in her mailbox. You stalk her on social media and find out her favorite ice cream flavor. Also during this stage, you begin to become hyperaware of all your flaws and prior mistakes. Knowing that you never want your Little to think less of you, or want her to make the same mistakes as you have. You start to shape up.

Stage 3: "OMG I Think She’s Just Like Me"

This is the stage where the ice breakers have long gone and you start to let loose your true self to the Big Little relationship. You start spending hours in the library together and countless weekends out, learning more details about each other every step of the way. This stage is eye-opening because you realize that you never had to impress your Little at all. This is where the texting nonstop occurs. Not the texting in previous stages, where it’s just a “How was your day?” or “What are you doing tonight?” The texting is now yelling about your ex-boyfriends and faint memories of last week.

Stage 4: No Turning Back

This is a beautiful stage. The stage where you are past the point of return. This is after you’ve laughed so hard you’ve cried and cried so hard that you laughed. You see the messy part of each other’s lives and still want to stick around. If you don’t see one another at least once a day something is wrong and you are well aware of her favorite flavors of any food. You can’t imagine your life without her, even if it means a lifetime of horrible decisions and plain avocado smashed into a bowl, only to be called guacamole.

Stage 5: Best Friends

The final stage. The best description of this stage is that I just had to walk into my local gas station to claim my Little’s driver’s license that she left there a week ago. This is the stage where you’ve grown and will continue growing, together. This is where letting your Little copy your homework doesn’t feel wrong and making up horrible life plans that involve Smoothie King seems just alright. This is where you know that your Little should have always been that little sister you never had. A little sister to protect and love; to make fun of her constantly but fight someone until the end if they join in with you. This is someone you can make bad decisions with and not regret one second of it.

The title of Big Sister comes with a world of responsibilities. You are meant to love, respect, teach, and grow with a person you barely even know. The Big Little relationship is an amazing bond that never lets you be alone. I am beyond blessed to have went through every phase with my Little and cannot wait to see her do the same with a Little of her own.