When I first started writing for the Odyssey, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't write sappy, meaningful articles because I wanted my articles to stay lighthearted and funny. The one exception I'm willing to make is for my big, who's going to a new school next semester. Even though I know my big will still be there with me through the most important moments of my life, I'm struggling with the idea that she won't be a parking lot away from me. I don't know whom I'm going to call when I'm sick, heartbroken, offended, or insecure. The first person I call when I succeed in any aspect of my life is my big. I'll be lost without her. So, this is for all of the bigs who are becoming alumnae and all of the littles who are trying to cope with that.

I can never possibly explain how much my big means to me, but I can do my best. Before joining my sorority, I had one sister. She's two years younger than me, and I always liked it that way. I liked being the one who got to do things first and I liked being the one who got to teach my little sister important life lessons. I never really wanted a big sister or needed one, but once I got my big that completely changed. In my first year as a member of a Panhellenic sorority, my big has gone above and beyond to be the perfect big sister, mentor, and best friend to me.

Everyone deals with drama, even in college, and my big has consistently been the best person to go to for advice. Even before she became my big, she was always willing to make time to talk to me one on one and help me come up with solutions to my problems. It takes a very special kind of person to invest that kind of care into other people. Even some of my closest friends lack the kind of support my big continues to give me in every situation I face.

I knew who my big was going to be from the moment we were assigned to each other. This was partially because she kept trying to throw me off by saying things like "your big sucks" and "I wouldn't want her as my big," and partially because I knew there was no one else as good for me as her. In order to keep my big a secret, almost everyone in my chapter (including my big) tried to convince me I didn't get who I thought I got. The only problem was that they were telling me it wasn't who I thought, but that my big and I were a perfect match. This actually further led me to believe that I had gotten the big I wanted because she and I are practically the same person.

My big is truly my biggest role model. She embodies the values of my sorority more than anyone else I know. In the short time she has been my big, I have seen her go through so many different things, good and bad, and every time she has come out stronger than before. She is willing to let me complain to her about the negative people in my life. She listens to me ramble on and on about every boy I've ever had a crush on. She has an open-door policy for me; any time I need anything, she's going to be there for me. She constantly pushes me to become a happier, better person and to be exactly what a want to be in life (which is basically a second version of my big). She helps me study and keep my grades up. We share the same interests and hobbies, and we share the same passion for our sorority and Greek life in general. She has shown me first hand how to honor my sisters and live by our ritual and motto. She has helped me to grow in courage, graciousness, and peace, and she has helped me realize my potential in my sorority, my school, and in society as a whole.

I'm so proud to have the big that I have. I may feel like she's being taken away from me too soon, but I know she has so many amazing things ahead of her. If I can be half the big that she has been to me, my little will have one of the greatest bigs in the world. My big does so much for me, and I can never thank her enough for being able to put up with me with such patience. I believe that God puts people into our lives for a reason and I can't ever express the gratitude I feel toward Him for giving me the big sister I never knew I needed and now can't see myself living without.