I came to Saint Joseph’s University as an only child that went to a public school, played sports, and was involved in a few clubs. In middle school I was obsessed with the ABC Family show "Greek" and my dream to become a sorority girl began. Coming to a private Jesuit school, that dream had diminished when I found out there weren’t sorority houses and I hadn’t found my Cappie or Evan in the first month of freshman year.

First semester I joined the club field hockey team and met some of my best friends today, only later to become sisters (and my twinny). I was content with my new group of friends but wanted something more—I wanted sisterhood. All of my life I had wanted a sibling but it just wasn’t in the cards. I envied the sibling bond and fighting that I witnessed at friends’ houses.

Before winter break I went to a few “Meet the Sisters” and then was hit with a lot of negativity from people that don’t believe in Greek Life. Saint Joe’s Greek life is unique, and I wanted to at least attempt to be apart of it. So over winter break I talked to my mom about it, registered, and was off to the mall to find outfits for each day of recruitment.

I went through recruitment with a few of my best friends at the time. After each day we would get dinner and freak out that we wouldn’t get asked back to the sorority we wanted. or worse; we would be in different sororities. We promised each other no matter what happened if we did end up in different sororities it wouldn’t change anything. Luckily, on bid day as we all opened our envelopes together we all received a bid from the same sorority, Alpha Omicron Pi. That was just the beginning of my college experience. Already, this sisterhood has changed my life and made me a better person. Here is a list how AOII changed my life now and how it will in the future.

1. During recruitment I was stuck talking to a girl while I was sweating to death. I told her I was profusely sweating. This girl is now my big.
2. During preference night I got to stuff my face with cute pink cupcakes while talking to the captain of my field hockey team. This girl is now my grandbig.
3. I learned how to balance my schoolwork more efficiently and somehow now have had a higher GPA in second semester for two years now.
4. Even though some of my best friends also received bids I gained over 100 close friends. All of which can be easily influenced into going to breakfast, lunch, or dinner at anytime of the day.
5. During finals I am somehow forced to go to the library to do work, one time spending an all-nighter and leaving only to get Dunkin and Wendy’s.
6. I realized I can and should rely on people when I am having a meltdown because this group of women cares even if I’m crying over a broken nail.
7. On the other side of recruitment I was terrified but I also met two really cool girls. They are now what I call: “LITTLES!”
8. These girls have also taught me what it is like to start dying my roots due to gray hairs. Just kidding, they have kept me sane and keep me up to date with the cool kids lingo, this also proves the gray hair theory.
9. I’ve learned that failure can only make me better in the future. Looking back at what I wrote when I was running for Vice President of Communications as a sophomore was like looking at how I wrote my name when I was 5 years old.
10. Gaining outside experience allowed me to have the confidence to run for Social Chairman and now with this experience I will be able to gain confidence when I am expanding on event planning as a possible career path.
11. I’ve learned to cherish the friendships I have gained and not take them for granted.
12. Even if my sisters are thousands of miles away I know I can still count on them to always be there for me.
13. Joining AOII also meant joining Saint Joe’s Greek Life and without it I would have not met some of my best friends in fraternities and get to spend time with my sisters and my friends in other sororities at Greek Life events at the same time.
14. I became interested in doing service; mainly 5k’s for causes but it is a work in progress!
15. And lastly I finally got the sisters I have always dreamt about.