Dear sorority,
I was skeptical about you at first. With my high school experience, I found it hard to believe that that many girls could get along and become that close, but you proved me wrong. Immediately you gave me a home away from home. From bid night on, I formed friendships with girls that I wouldn’t of had the courage to talk to before you. I never would have imagined when I was in high school that I would have 100 girls at any given time that I could turn to.
I still remember when I was going through a hard time and immediately a sister surprised me and came to my room with a Sprinkles’ cupcake in tow, with the message “boys come and go, but sisters are forever” written on it. She stayed with me until after 2 a.m. despite having to go to the car dealership the next morning bright and early. We talked until we’d exhausted every possible topic. To this day that is one of the nicest things someone has done for me, and I could not be happier to call her one of my best friends.
I grew up with biological sisters, but nothing compares to that feeling of knowing someone doesn’t have to be there for you but chooses to anyway, and you gave me that feeling.
You gave me these best friends, bridesmaids and better soul mates than any guy could ever be. You gave me endless taco Tuesdays sometimes at a restaurant, sometimes sitting around someone’s apartment eating out of a crock pot. You’ve given me philanthropy. I’ve got t-shirts, wristbands and bandanas that show that I helped make a difference. That instead of buying another Starbucks, I spent that $10 on charity, something I would not actively remember to do without you.
You gave me girls who traveled all around Europe with me and were willing to “throw what we know” no matter how American we looked. Speaking of giving me the most incredible girls I know, thank you for my big. She teaches me every day to be graceful and forgiving and classier than I could ever be on my own. Despite her being a senior when I was a freshman, she was truly the greatest confidant I could of ever asked for. She never lets others opinions of her question who she knows she is.
That being said, you taught me that people are going to label you; they’re going to assume one thing based on the Greek letters you wear. They may say horrible generalizations about an entire organization but they will never understand what you have given us.
In fairness, I had some misconceptions coming into this. I thought every girl would be exactly like me, or even worse, I thought they might be mean and catty and a lot like the movies like to depict them. I could not be happier that I was wrong. I now have best friends who make me watch "Human Planet" with them, something I can promise you I never would have watched by myself. I have friends that will go for late night fast food runs, friends who will have study sessions for hours, friends who will text me just to tell me they miss me, girls who will support me in everything I do.
Trust me when I say I know how cheesy this all sounds, but thank you sorority for teaching me all you have, for giving me over 140 years of memories, sisterhood and tradition.
Loyally,
Mikaela
