Dear Little Sister,

Are you there? It's me, your Big. I wanted to share a secret with you.

Being a Big Sister in your sorority is important. For you and the other members of your New Member Class, this is a week of presents and clues and excitement. Finally, you're getting the Big Sister that Internet sorority articles have promised you.

For the Big Sisters, it's a little bit different. Yes, we're still insanely excited to get our Littles--we've been preparing our whole sorority career to craft for you and love on you and call you our own! But "Big Sister" is synonymous with something else—mentor. It's up to us to look out for you this first year of hectic sorority life and help you find your stride. We're supposed to be your advisor, therapist, friend, and role model all wrapped up in one got-it-all-together package. And that's scary.

Something HUGE to remember is that not all Big-Little relationships are the same. Some of them look like fairy tales—the Big is the Little's best friend, mom, and cheerleader, who never gives wrong advice or sets a bad example. They're each other's bridesmaids, and each winds up planning the other's baby shower.

But sometimes, that isn't how it works. Sometimes, your Big is your sorority mentor, and that's all. You don't call her for advice any more than you call the weird girl who sits in the back of your freshman composition course, and you don't really ever see her outside of Chapter events. I hope that isn't how our relationship turns out, but if it does, that's not the end of the world either, and you shouldn't let that color your opinion of our organization.

A sorority is a group of many women coming together to make up a brilliant, wonderful whole. Savor that. While your relationship with your Big should be a building block for your time in our organization, don't let it be the cornerstone. Be your shining, beautiful, brilliant, hilarious self, and the rest will come on its own.

My Love Always,

YBS (Your Big Sister)