I decided early in the summer before coming to college that I wanted to rush and join a sorority. I knew the process would be stressful, I knew it would be hard not to take the rejections from sororities personal, and I knew I wanted to be a part of a sisterhood more than anything. The same day that I got a bid from my dream sorority, I met my big. She was shorter than me, with beautiful dark hair, and gold glitter from head to toe. We were standing in line waiting on shaved ice and we talked about our experiences in high-school theater. Little did I know, meeting this girl would change my life.

Before it was official, I was spending most of my time with my soon to be big. We had a connection that I didn't expect to find in a sorority. She loves the same nerdy things I do, from the same superheroes to the same video games, we had it all in common. It really took me by surprise. I had already decided before recruitment I wouldn't find anyone to share my nerdy side with, but my big continually proves me wrong every day. I have found that I can be my most authentic self, and that is truly something that has surprised about sorority life.

The way that big/little week works is each day leading up to the reveal, your big will leave you a basket of gifts and a note with a clue on it in the sorority house. The reveal is meant to be a surprise, because of this, it's difficult to tell which clues are true and which are false about your big. My big especially wanted to surprise me, so she threw me off with a very elaborate lie about how she missed a payment to the sorority and couldn't take a little because of it. Upon reflection, and knowing what I know now about my sorority, this is flimsy, but she got all the older sisters in on her scheme so that it was constantly being reinforced to me. I was heartbroken the week of big little because I didn't think I would get to have my best friend in the sorority be my Big sister. Naturally, when she dropped her curtain at our reveal event, I was stunned. I also cried a little too.

In a sorority, your big sister is meant to be the woman you can count on no matter what. She's supposed to teach you about the sorority's purposes and show you everything that makes a sisterhood the unique, beautiful thing that it is. Above all, your big is your person in the sorority; the one you go to parties with, the one you get ready with, the one you have study dates, shopping trips, and movie nights with. Your big becomes your best friend in a way you've never had a best friend before. It is such a unique and special bond to share, and I'm blessed to have found the perfect sister to share my life within my big.