Big/Little. I’m sure dozens of you reading this are familiar with these terms. Some of you understand the reason why girls are constantly talking about their Bigs and Littles and some of you, I’m sure, don’t understand it a bit.
Most girls go into colleges and sorority life not really knowing the whole “deal” behind the Big/Little relationship. On the outside, it just looks like a glorified friendship, topped off with tons of Instagrams and crafts.
Well, as someone who has both a big and a little, let me break it down for you. Cue the beatboxing!...No? OK, moving on.
Sisterhood is a powerful thing. We live in a society that has trained young women and girls to see each other as competition. When we come together and recognize each other as sisters, whether it be in a greek organization, as a whole campus, or just between friends, we are fighting that system. The bond that forms between women becomes something incredible, worthy of study.
The Big/Little relationship is, in many ways, one of the grandest and strongest bonds of sisterhood. The Little comes in as a scared freshman, and their Big is like their fairy godmother, glitter and all. They are guidance, they are friendship, they are guaranteed support. I’m the oldest in my family and my Big is the youngest in hers, so for the first time, she got to be the big sister and I got to be the little one. My Big was there for me in both the highlights and lowlights of my life. She celebrated with me when I got my first internship and held me when I cried over the passing of my great-grandmother. She taught me how to “do” college and was like my own personal Salem College Encyclopedia. How do final exams work? Is Dr. Thomas cool, tough, or both? What should I avoid in the dining hall? Big had all the answers.
And as much love and support we get as Littles, we want to give just as much to our own Little ones. Being a Big is one of the coolest things in the world. You’ve got your own mini-me. A guaranteed Cookout run buddy. Someone to share your wisdom with. I’ve got an incredible Little with who I can do just about anything. We can chill on my dorm floor watching "The Bachelor," while eating Chinese food and making chocolate-covered-Oreo-Reese’s-sandwiches, or watch our beloved Carolina Panthers kick ass and totally bro out. She’s like the smaller, blonder, bolder version of me and an awesome young woman in her own right. Being there for our Littles and watching them come into their own is probably the best part of being a Big.
So, to sum up something that can never be summed up concisely, the Big/Little relationship is a special bond. It’s a positive relationship that comes with built-in support, guidance and a whole lot of fun. It’s an automatic best friend for life and who doesn’t want that? Bigs provide constant love for their Littles and the Littles make sure that the Bigs remember to have fun and enjoy life instead of constantly being worried about grad school apps and the future. It’s a symbiotic relationship that, when catered to correctly, can stand the test of time.
And that’s why it’s a Big deal.
