Since the day I stepped foot on Saint Leo's campus, I knew I wanted to join a sorority. I had always loved the movies that dramatized sorority life, and then seeing all of these pretty girls in matching shirts with cool Greek letters on them really caught my attention. I wanted to join a sorority. When I went out for recruitment my Spring semester of Freshman year, I found my family at Saint Leo, and ran home to the best group of girls that I had ever met.

Running home was overwhelmingly fun, and partaking in all of the Theta Phi Alpha eating traditions was even better. I had finally found a group of girls who loved me for me. The new member process felt like forever (even though it was only 8 weeks), but was also filled with fun and creating lasting relationships with sisters.

Although I did thoroughly enjoy my new member process, the best part (by far) was getting my Big. My Big's name is Mary Grace, and she is a Southern Belle to the extreme. She's loud, crazy, kind of obnoxious, a great cook, and by far the most amazing person I have ever met. Before getting my Big, I did not really understand the concept. Why would you want someone older than you who acts like your mom and tells you what to do? Well, the simple answer is because you need it. And I definitely needed it. My Big kept me in line during my process, and still does to this day.

My Big introduced me to so many people in other organizations, brought me out of my shell, and pushed me to do physically as much as I could to get involved at school. I thought she was annoying at the time, but now I am constantly striving to do as much as I can to get involved at school, and be the best that I can be. She taught me the ropes of Theta Phi, and showed me what I could and couldn't get away with. She's taught me to do things out of selflessness, and not expect acknowledgment for everything that you do. She's brought me out to countless parties, and taken me to the local bars we have by school, and showed me how to be responsible yet still have a fantastic time while out. My Big taught me how to be a loving Big to my Little.

My Big has taken care of me numerous times – the time I had a double ear infection from PCB and brought me a get-well kit, the time I had the worst night of my life and just needed greasy food and Gatorade to get better, the time I had been hurt by "friends" or boys that weren't worth it, or just being there to listen to me vent about things I needed to talk about. My Big became my best friend in such a short period of time and is always my go-to. She is the one person that I want to tell all of my accomplishments, embarrassing stories, recap the night with, and just talk about nonsense to. If I didn't talk to/ see my Big everyday, it was a weird day.

Now, my Big is graduated and is off in the real world, and I am dreading doing my Junior year at school without her. I won't be able to drive five minutes to see her and have a home cooked meal, I'll have to FaceTime her while showing her that I'm eating cereal for dinner once again. I won't have someone to sit on RA duty with me every single time. I won't be able to ask her to pick me up to go and grab Taco Bell with her. But, I will have her to text whenever I need someone to talk to, someone who knows me better than I know myself, and someone who puts me in my place when need be.

Moral of the story: appreciate the time that you do have with your Big. She is your Big for a reason, and you mean as much to her as she means to you.

I hope I am making you proud, Biggie.