Four short years ago, I was blessed to find a sisterhood that became my second family, my home away from home. I can't tell you the countless times that this sisterhood has been my rock while I've been away at school. But they inspired me to take a leap and try something new, to which I ran for our rotating Panhellenic Council position and found, yet again, a second home with my family consisting of members from all chapters. Here are just a few of the outcomes I gained from my two years served on Panhellenic Council at Alma College.
1. Leadership Skills
Between the business meetings, the executive council meetings, running recruitment and every event in-between this organization instilled time management into my lifestyle, more than I thought was possible. I was also able to interact and work on my communication skills while creating new friendships, which made it seem less like a chore and so much more.
2. New Friends
I was never under the impression that, once I joined my own chapter, I wouldn't have time to associate with others in different chapters. Heck, my best friend in college is in a different chapter and nothing has changed between us. I guess I was almost oblivious to the wonderful souls that would come into my life because of Panhellenic, but knowing them has definitely changed me for the better and they've become some of my greatest friends.
3. Greater Love Of My Own Letters
With each semester in this organization, there were about four weeks where I was unable to associate with my own chapter because of recruitment. At first, it was really hard to give up wearing the letters I had learned to love so much, but then around my fourth time of doing it, it became second nature in a way. No matter how easy it became to pretend I wasn't in Phi Sig, I still had part of me missing my letters. In the end, each time I ran home to the group of girls donned in King Blue and Gold I was reminded of just how much Phi Sig means to me, and each time I got to re-experience running home, it was just as incredible as the first time when I was unaware of what awaited me. 
4. Family Line Love
My obsession with Panhellenic didn't just appear out of thin air. My Big was on it before me, and so was her Big. My Big actually was Panhellenic President during the recruitment I went through, and I remember wanting to be in the same chapter as her. Then we were paired as Big and Little, and I went to all of the Panhellenic meetings in support of her. I think my going to those meetings actually became the start of my growing interest in Panhellenic. When the opportunity came to run in the chapter I just couldn't pass it up. Though, it kind of runs in the family since there were three generations of my family line that served as Panhellenic President.
5. Helping Others Find Letters
The most incredible part of Panhellenic for me? Hands down it will always be watching other women find their second homes. It's incredible to get to share in their journey, and will always be the part I miss the most. Recruitment can be a confusing and hectic process for anyone, but the joyous outcome of finding sisterhood is so great that it makes everything worth it. Nothing beats getting new sisters, but watching them fall in love with your own chapter whiles you're on the "sideline" of it all is pretty close to indescribable.
Panhellenic was more than just an organization to me, it was and still is my family and will forever be the reason for so many of my favorite collegiate memories.
