My boyfriend received his bid at the beginning of last semester, and I was so excited for him. I knew a few of you through mutual friends and spent most of my nights at your house right off campus. Throughout the semester, I was around more and more and I grew closer to the fraternity. I went on trips and supported you at every event I attended. I don’t think any of you know how much I truly care about each and every one of you, and I don’t think you get enough credit. So I wrote a sappy thank you letter, continue with caution.
To my boyfriend’s brothers,
First and foremost, thank you for being there for my boyfriend. Throughout his pledge process, I watched him grow as an individual drastically. He learned time management, priorities and, most of all, he smiled more. I have you to thank for that. You’re his family away from home, and you support him through things I don’t even know about. He leans on you when we fight and has somewhere to go when I can’t be there. You give him a place to belong and friendships that will last a lifetime. You will be a constant force in his life, and I can’t thank you enough for giving him a brotherhood upon which he can build his life.
Thank you for always including me and making me feel welcome. Whether it’s studying together in the library, coming to watch the Super Bowl with the boys at the house or attending a spring break trip to Florida, you welcome me with open arms. I never heard a single brother lean over to my boyfriend and say, “Dude, why’d you bring her?” “It’s a brother only thing, man.” And no one asked me to leave. When I walk in the room everyone welcomes, hugs, talks and includes me. It’s not a question of “Are you coming tonight?” It's “What time will you be there?” You make me feel important, not as though I'm only a brother’s girlfriend.
Thank you for always being yourself. Since I’m dating a brother, you never have to impress me. I’m at an advantage of getting to know you all on a true and personable level. You don’t have to play it sweet with me, watch what you say or save your story for when I’m not around. You’re comfortable enough to tell your crazy “last night” stories when I’m sitting there and I know what you did last night because I was there. You aren’t afraid to ask me for girl advice, and tell me the honest to God truth no matter how embarrassing it may be. I know you better than that girl anyway. I celebrate as much as your brothers do when you finally get that girl you’ve been eyeing all night, and I’m happy for you when you’re happy.
Thank you for respecting me, not only as his girlfriend but as a person. I spend more time with him than you all do, but you all respect that and don’t pull the “You’re always with her,” card. If he stays home because I’m sick, you understand. If I arrive at the party to take him home, you trust my judgment. There are no degrading comments with you, and there are no hurtful words or fighting between any of us. I am extremely grateful and thankful for that alone.
Finally, thank you for being the big brothers I never had. Regardless of our age difference, each of you protect me, stand up for me, have my back, listen when I need to vent and go out of your way to help me. You google jokes to make me laugh when I’m sad, don’t make me follow a house rule when I’m losing a game, make fun of me for the stupid jokes I tell and tie my shoes together when I’m not paying attention. Thank you for going out of your way to pick me up when my car breaks down, for giving me rides when I had a cast on my leg and making sure I get home safe every time I leave. You are concerned about my well-being, help me when I’m struggling and you’re always there when I need a hand. You help me, you sit with me, you include me, you welcome me and you gave me a place of belonging when I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere. Although I am unable to be a part of the fraternal brotherhood, I have a bond strong enough to consider you all my brothers.
