My name is Sheridan Kate Murray, and I am a legacy for Kappa Alpha Theta. By definition, being a legacy in a Greek organization means that you are the son, daughter, brother, sister, or grandchild of an initiated member. My situation is extra special, because my sister was a Theta at Wofford, the school that I now attend. I can still picture the moment when my sister told me that she had rushed Theta. She was a freshman at Wofford, and I was a freshman in high school. She called me to tell me the results of her bid day, and I could feel her excitement through the phone. Even though at that time in my life I didn't know the first thing about sororities, I fell in love with Theta that day, too. See, I've always wanted to be like my sister. She's always had everything going for her, is always put together, and knows how to make you feel like the most important person in the room. From her bid day forward, I knew that if she had found her home in Theta, it must be pretty special.

I would be lying if I said that my status as a legacy didn't impact my decision to come to Wofford. In my mind, rushing Theta was another way to be just like my sister. When I began the recruitment process, I made sure to show every Theta I met just how much I cared about carrying on my sister's legacy. I got swept up in the chaos of skits, philanthropies, and preference nights, all the while keeping my sister in the back of my mind. When my own bid day came, however, I was scared. What if I was given a bid just because I was SPM's sister? I started to worry that I had been chosen based on my status as a legacy, and not for the person I was inside.

It's been about six months since I accepted my bid into Kappa Alpha Theta, and I can honestly say it's one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I now know that no matter what my background would have been, I have always belonged in Theta. I have been able to pursue social, intellectual, and moral growth every day since I joined. I've realized that being a legacy is about so much more than just being like the family member who was in the organization before you. It's about helping to carry on a tradition of honor, service, and leadership that can bond you with your loved ones for a lifetime. The friendships I have formed in this organization fully reassure me that even if my sister hadn't rushed Theta, it would still undoubtedly be my home.

At this point all I can do is say thank you. Thank you to my amazing sister for starting a legacy of leading women that I am now able to carry on. Being connected to you both by blood, and by this amazing sisterhood, means more to me than I could ever put into words. I feel so blessed to share in the bonds of Theta with you.

Thank you to my incredible sisters in the Zeta Eta chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. You have shown me what it truly means to be a leading woman. Thank you for accepting me for all the ways I am unlike my sister, and embracing the ways in which we are creepily similar. Thank you for showing me that my legacy status only enhances my role in such an incredible organization.

To my fellow legacies, follow your heart. Don't be afraid to explore other options. At the same time though, let yourself feel the bonds that your legacy allows. Being able to share the bond of sisterhood or brotherhood with someone you hold dear, is probably one of the most magical experiences possible.