To all of the potential new members,

Given that it is almost time for spring recruitment, I felt that it would be helpful and appropriate to share what my sorority has done for me in an open letter to my sisters. In this letter, I hope to encourage those who are not already Greek, to consider "Going Greek," and, for those that are already Greek, to provide a glimpse of what is probably a very relatable tale of my journey through recruitment and sorority life thus far. It is, and will always be, one of the best and most empowering decisions I have ever made.

So here it goes…

I am extremely close with my sisters at home. I relied on them for everything. They had to fill the roles of being my sisters and my girlfriends. I was what you may consider outcast all four years of high school.

Studying and pouring my heart and soul into swimming kept me occupied most of the time, but I frequently felt lonely—studying and swimming could only fill so much of the void. My social experience, or lack thereof, in high school, was a huge blow to my self-esteem and to my confidence in my ability to be liked and make friends.

Consequently, I came into GW petrified that college would be a repeat experience of high school in terms of friendships and social interactions.

In my first few weeks at GW, I had a really hard time finding where I fit in--I was having trouble making friends and I spent the majority of my free time alone in my room or in the library.

I missed my sisters and was really considering transferring schools to be closer to home, but then, thankfully recruitment rolled around. Pretty much my entire family was Greek and being a part of Greek life was something I was certain that I must be a part of to carry on the legacy.

However, I had my reservations. It interfered with my economics midterm, and I was concerned that recruitment would waste my precious studying time. I kept trying to convince myself that I didn't need friends...I didn't need a family away from home...I was strong enough to do everything on my own.

But with the help of my Pi Rho Chi (who ended up being a future sorority sister of mine sister), I realized that I could no longer deny myself the sisterhood and friendship that I have craved since the beginning of high school.

When I started the recruitment process I was still very skeptical. Many of my conversations seemed superficial, which frustrated me. There were many times during recruitment where I felt judged and criticized and times when I felt like I had to try and be something I was definitely not.

Going into Pi Beta Phi day on bid day was like coming up for a breath of fresh air. I felt like I could be my quirky self and not feel as if I was being judged for it at all. My conversations with the girls that would soon become my sisters were genuine and were never awkward.

Maybe I did seem extremely awkward to them, but at least they didn’t make it apparent. I had a conversation about my love of fantasy football, passion for baked goods and what it’s like to be a “Daddy’s girl” with a girl that would become one of my best friends and biggest supporters—someone who I care deeply about and love like a sister.

Pi Phi was definitely forefront in my mind throughout recruitment, but it wasn't until preference night, roughly a year ago that I knew Pi Phi was home for me. I listened to my future sisters tell their stories of how they knew Pi Phi was home for them.

As I stood there listening to what Pi Phi meant to them, I thought to myself, I hope that someday I will be able to stand in this room surrounded by people who love and care about me and tell me story of how I knew pi phi was home for me. It was in that moment that I finally felt like I was in the right place—I finally felt like I fit in.

I found a group of girls that genuinely cared about me. Every single one of my sisters have supported me through the hardest of times last year—they never judged me, they always showed me so much love and acceptance, but most of all they listened to me and tried to understand the best that they could. I honestly don’t know where I would be today if I had not had the unwavering support of my Pi Phi sisters last year.

I can, with confidence, say that I know who I am, I know that I am loved and I know that I am valued for who I am. To me, that speaks volumes to the genuine sisterhood of pi phi.

To my sisters who are reading this, I love and care about each and every one of you guys, and thank you for everything you have done for me thus far as a sister of Pi Phi, and to the potential new members, I hope that wherever you end up calling home, you are able to find something as genuine and amazing as I have found in Pi Phi.