Being a new kid is never easy. Trust me, I would know. Two different elementary schools, two middle schools, a high school, and two different colleges. In the fall of 2015, I transferred from a local community college to Moravian College. They were only miles from each other, but a world apart. I only knew a handful of people. Some were fellow transfer students. Others from my old high school. Even with that small group of familiar faces, I remembered my first few weeks on campus as feeling lost. Where did I fit in? I wasn’t athletic. I wasn’t musical. I was book smart and a little geeky. I was a quiet new kid who desperately wanted to find where they belonged.

Then one morning while waiting for the shuttle to go up to North Campus, I began reading the little flyers hanging all over. One of these was a flyer for Gamma Sigma Sigma. I had previously thought about joining a sorority, but decided against it - I wasn’t a sorority girl. But this one promised to be different, and it was.

I attended the first night of Rush, I kept my calm, but inside I was a nervous wreck. What was I getting myself into? On the first night, we played a photo scavenger hunt around campus. I remember laughing to almost the point of tears over the photos we took and how I quickly relaxed and was able to be myself around these girls. They were like me. They were intelligent and quirky. They considered themselves geeky and nerdy. Volunteering was something they were passionate about as well.

I remember texting my mom that night “I love these girls. I found where I belong!” I was honestly so happy that night and could not wait to come back the following for the next round of Rush week.

The next day, I ran into the girls almost everywhere I went. I barely remembered any of their names from the night before, but that didn’t stop any of them. They would wave, say hi and ask if I was coming to Rush again. It was uplifting to run into so many faces who were so happy to see you.

I was inducted into the Epsilon Xi chapter that Friday as part of the Alpha Nu pledge class.

Two weeks ago we inducted the next pledge class after mine. I am now a full member, I was a Rose, and am hoping to be a Big soon.

I have met the most amazing girls by reading a flyer. I found my family, where I belong by taking a chance. Sometimes in life, you have to let go of your fear. You need to try something you may have thought would never be something you would be interested in. By taking a leap of faith over a poster, I have roughly 30 sisters (and now a brother!) who I can go to about anything and everything. If I need someone to rant to or celebrate with, my siglings will always be there to support me.

Gamma Sigma Sigma is not just a service sorority, but is a family for life. These are the friends who will have your back through everything.