It will be my big's birthday this week, and I thought it would be a good time to thank her for everything she's done for me. But before I get into the real cheesy part, I thought I would provide a little context on our relationship.
I had recently joined my sorority, and I only knew a few girls from various events. After a gathering, a few girls were going to Sonic and on a whim, I asked if I could come along. They welcomed me and we headed to Sonic. It was that day that I met my big, and we got along so well that I thought about her being my big. At first, I thought she was older than me. She was poised, and had a mature air around her. But then I found out she was the same age as me, and my respect for her grew exponentially. I found myself seeing aspects within her that I wanted in myself.
From there, the more we hung out, the more I couldn't picture anyone else as a mentor, a role model, and a best friend besides Lauren. Then we went through big/little reveal week, and I cried when I found out she was my big. For those who aren't in Greek life, the relationship between a big and a little may be a little hard to understand. The only way I can explain it in terms besides weird sounds is that if you're an only child like me, a big fills in that gap that never having siblings created. Only children don't have holes in their hearts from not having siblings, but it fills something within you that you didn't know you wanted.
So, thank you Lauren. Thank you for welcoming me so openly into our house. Thank you for coming to pick me up when one of my best friends' car broke down. Thank you for introducing me to your friends. Thank you for listening to all my boy problems, and friend problems. Thank you for coming to my hometown and meeting my friends. Thank you for bringing our little family together. Thank you for sending me texts of encouragement whenever I needed it. Thank you for answering my constant and random questions about life and our sorority. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for inspiring me constantly. Thank you for being you.
Not every big/little relationship is picture perfect. If you're not constantly taking pictures together, or hanging out every second, it doesn't mean you don't have a great relationship. But, no matter how much or how little you are seen together, do things together, a big/little relationship should be built on respect and love. You don't have to love every aspect of one another, but you should at least respect each other's decisions, life choices, etc. The beauty of a big/little relationship is that you're both on this crazy roller coaster that is college, but your big or little is that one person who will always love you. Sure, you may not agree on everything, and sure, you may believe that they are going down a path you wouldn't pick for yourself. But, you still love each other. You still respect one another. When will you ever be in a relationship with someone who is like a sibling, but isn't blood related? Someone who loves you unconditionally, and will support you in every event in your life?
I never knew what a big/little relationship would mean to me, but I do know now that I love every aspect of my big/little relationship, and will love it forever. Thank you for everything, Lauren, and I know that we'll have the best family together forever. XO.