Upon introducing myself in college, it never fails that the follow up questions are “what! you went to an all-girl high school?" "Did you just hate it?" "Did you even know any boys?" "Was there non-stop drama?" The only way I can respond to these questions is first by laughing, then attempting to explain how I wouldn’t trade my all-girl high school experience for anything in the world. While co-ed graduates don’t completely understand, I know that I truly had an advantage when coming to college, and especially when joining a sorority.

So, St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge, here is why I am so thankful for the wonderful all-girl high school experience you gave me:

1. Sisterhood

Thank you for teaching me what a true sisterhood is. Thank you for teaching me the importance of being there for one another and loving each other endlessly. Thank you for teaching me what it means to have a support system and shoulder to lean on. Sisterhood is perhaps one of the most important parts of a sorority. It gives you a constant support system, girls to laugh with, cry with, and share your most favorite memories. While this is new for majority of girls entering into a sorority, this is something I was fortunate enough to have throughout my high school experience. Attending an all-girl high school showed me what it means to be surrounded by girls who truly love and care for one another. This made the transition into college a little easier because I understood exactly how this strong sister bond works. So thank you SJA for teaching me what a strong sisterhood looks like...it helped me to find just as great of a sisterhood in Chi Omega!

2. Philanthropy

Thank you for teaching me how important it is to serve others. Through the strong emphasis put on service, I truly fell in love with being a helping hand to others. Every sorority has a philanthropic organization that they help through various events to raise money and spread awareness. This is one of my favorite parts of being in a sorority because in high school I was taught to be a servant leader. Thank you SJA for giving me the desire to help others.

3. Big/Little Sisters

Thank you for teaching me the importance of having someone to look up to and how to be an example for those younger than me. Through the big sis/lil sis program at my high school, It made my transition into freshman year of high school easier because I had someone to look up to. Then, when I became a senior I got to be this same example for my little sisters. In a sorority, bigs and littles are there for the exact same reasons. Your big is there to help your transition into college and show you the ropes of the sorority. Your little is there for support and love throughout all the difficulties college can bring. So thank you to my SJA bigs and littles for all the wonderful memories made!

4. Swaps

Thank you for helping us come to college with a swap box already filled with tons and tons of costumes from the many dress up days (majority of the pictures in this article showcase these costumes).Through dressing up for spirit days, halloween, and dances I was already prepared with many variations of costumes that have and will come in handy throughout my college sorority years. Through these fun days in high school, I learned how to balance fun and school work...which is a real struggle for most when transitioning into college. Thanks SJA for teaching me how fun dressing up can be! The following picture is from an actual school day... you wish you went to an all girl school now, don't you?

5. Spirit

Thank you for teaching us to be passionate about our school and to have lots of spirit! In competitions, recruitment, and just day-to-day life, you have to have a lot of spirit for your sorority. Because I was so passionate about SJA, it was easy to find that same spirit for Chi Omega!

6. The Sorority Squat

I guess it is just something that comes with being around so many girls and trying to fit so many of us in one picture, but for most all-girl high school graduates, the sorority squat started their freshman year of high school, not their freshman year of college! That just means our quads are already prepared for assuming this position in pictures when we get to college!

7. Uniforms

Thank you for getting us used to wearing uniforms everyday. While the uniforms in high school are a little different from the sorority uniform of oversized t-shirts and nike shorts, they are uniforms all the same. Thanks for starting this routine for me!

So, while we have changed from hoping boys would ask us to the all-boy's school homecoming to hoping boys will ask us to their fraternity date parties, there are tons of similarities that make the sorority transition an easy one!

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you all-girl high schools for teaching us the values and lessons needed to be the best sorority girls we can be! Thank you for empowering us and teaching us that women can be leaders too!