It’s time for new BIGinnings with Big/Little Reveal approaching! Ha ha, so punny. Seriously though, this is the most excited I’ve been in a while because in a few short weeks I’ll be revealing myself to my future little as her big and become someone’s sister, mentor and friend. A year ago, when I joined Greek life, I was anxiously awaiting the day I received my big and became part of a new family. Each step closer to finding out her identity only made me giddier and probably more annoying to everyone around me because it's all I could talk about. I’m the oldest of four kids in my family and have always wanted a big sister to help guide me through life. A year ago, I finally got one. I finally got a big sister I could look up to, ask to help do my hair before formal, be sarcastic with... you know, all the important things.
Now, as I come closer to becoming a big myself, I’ve learned that being a big sister to someone is so much more. It’s about being a mentor and showing your little the ropes of her new home. It’s about being there for the laughs, the tears and everything in between. It’s about sometimes doing things for your little that you wouldn’t do for anyone else. The first time I met my big (before we were actually big and little), we went on a get-to-know-you coffee date. I don’t exactly remember who decided to get coffee (probably me), but I do remember that our first conversation was about how she didn’t really like to drink coffee. My initial reaction was something like, “Who doesn’t like coffee?!” but then I thought about how unusually nice it was that she agreed to do something she didn’t love just because I enjoyed it. This kind of gesture isn’t something you experience on a regular basis. A normal friend doesn’t do something like that: a big does.
Being a big isn’t about making the best crafts you can find on Pinterest and manage not to botch them or about passing down the coolest t-shirts and being an epic duo together, although those are some pretty cool perks. Being a big is about bringing your little chicken noodle soup when she’s sick and bringing her cupcakes when she rocks an exam she studied extremely hard for (note: giving her food is good). It’s about going out with your little even though you may not want to because you want to see her have a good time, and show how you really will always be there for her. Why do bigs and littles have relationships reminiscent of biological sisters, you may ask? Because even though you're not blood related, your big is still your family. She’s just the family you get to choose.
Good luck to all the new bigs out there, and littles, get ready to meet one of your best friends!
