When I started recruitment, I never imagined how much joining a sorority and the Greek life community would change me as a person. I would never be the one to say that I was going to be the girl who wore her letters every day, the girl who was overjoyed when people talked about her house and the girl who only dated frat guys.

But after September, all this had changed. I had joined the Sigma Sigma Sigma chapter at Illinois State, and that was honestly the best decision of my life. After joining, I now have tons of new friends with whom I have shared countless laughs, memories and experiences. I also have an amazing Big who helps me every day with numerous situations, problems, Sigma help and more. I am very lucky to have found girls who are just as crazy and fun as I am, and I honestly do not know what I would do without them.

I am also thankful for the opportunities that Sigma has given me this past year with different events, including my upcoming position of homecoming chair for Illinois State in the fall. I feel like a whole new person after joining my chapter, because before joining Sigma, I never really knew what time management was. I was always awful at balancing my life and trying to stay on top of everything while managing to have fun. After joining, time management not only was helpful, it was required. I had to learn to manage my homework, classes, studying, philanthropies, chapter, social events and more.

Although at times it is stressful, it is an important life lesson that everyone needs to learn for the future. I also have gained very good communication skills from being in a sorority because you need to communicate along with anywhere between 50 to 125 people, including yourself, regarding situations, events, times and dates, information regarding the chapter and more.

I feel that, overall, Greek life this year has improved me in so many ways, like the ones I mentioned. There really is not enough thanks I can give my chapter, as well as my sisters. I would be honestly lost without you. Cheers to the next few years as a Sigma, I can't wait to see where it takes me.