It feels like just yesterday we were enjoying Summer in all of its glory; with hot days and warm nights, watching the sun set as you start burning the midnight oil. Yet,as the days grow shorter and the nights grow colder, fall brings a certain charm of its own; bundled up tight in a warm jacket, the brisk air biting at your face, and taking turns between binge-eating more comfort food than you're proud of and napping to avoid raking the leaves for the third time this week. My favorite part of fall, however, is the long nights where you find yourself reminiscing on days gone by. On a night much like this I stumbled across a poem, one I had written a few years earlier, and one that still means very much to me.

To provide you with some background, in the fall of 2014, I was afforded a unique opportunity, the opportunity to run for the position of Sweetheart with the amazing women of Alpha Omicron Pi at Eastern Washington University. During the process, I was fortunate enough to become acquainted with so many of these wonderful people and I am not exaggerating when I say that I was truly in awe at the quality of character these people possessed. Yet the most astounding part of it all came after I was elected. As I became even closer with all of them and I was able to be more and more open about the weird person I see in myself, these women did not turn their noses up or distance themselves. They accepted me despite all of my quirks. They welcomed me despite my goofy demeanor. And what's more, they showed me that I didn't have to choose between friendship and being genuinely me.

So as Fall wears on and we dawn our snuggies, I again find myself fondly recalling my time as their Sweetheart. And to this day I will never know what I ever did to deserve the friendship and support they gave me. If any of you are reading this, thank you ladies; you gave me more than you'll ever know.

A Sweetheart’s Rhyme

By Nathan Parsons

It seems like yesterday

I came through your door

Hoped for friendship

Found so much more

In this house, founded by four

Yet worst of days

They’re sure to come

When you just don’t know where to run

I’ll be your friend and bring a movie

You’ll be my gem

I’ll be your ruby

If I’m your sweetheart

I’ll remain your guy

Day by day

As they go by

I’ll cherish these moments

With AOΠ

I would also like to give a special thanks to my personal friend and mentor, James Fleming. His charismatic personality inspired me to put myself out there and run for Sweetheart, and his creative genius helped breathe life into this poem.