Dear Chi Omega,

I walked into Rush with an open mind and a list full of ambitions. I stepped into the door frame of your house in the summer of 2013. This was my fifth and final house that day, so naturally, I thought I was a pro. I thought to myself, "just play it cool and be chill about the whole ordeal." I stepped in thinking that I had "rushing" down pat and that this would be just like the other four houses that I had attended. Well, I was wrong. These women cared about more than just my major and what dorm I would be living in. I was met with a genuineness that followed me further than just the door frame of the house. I knew when I stepped in that you were for me. When I began college, I did not know what to expect, but you changed that for me. Every day that I get to wear the X and the old horse shoe, I am grateful that I get to experience life with the amazing sisters that I earned. Chi Omega, I do not think that you are shown the gratitude that you deserve, so here I am to tell you that I am thankful for all you are and all you will come to be.

Thank you for showing me how to be a woman. Since I am a Chi Omega, I know the symphony like the back of my hand. When I was a new member, I threw "womanly always" around, not knowing its true meaning. Now, everything is so much different concerning that. Each and every one of my sisters have shown me what womanhood looks like. They are strong, beautiful, and can overcome any obstacle thrown their way. Chi Omega has shown me that being a woman is an amazing thing. It is not just dressing up and minding my manners. It is acing a test, landing a once-in-a-lifetime internship, and taking my life by the horns. To be womanly is not simply to be feminine.

Thank you for teaching me to be a leader. If there's one thing that Chi Omega produces more than anything else, it is leadership. Our executive board is full of women who give the chapter something to look up to. They handle things in the best way they know how and make sure that the whole chapter will benefit from their decision. Even though our executive board is awesome, it is not the only opportunity given by Chi Omega to lead. We are encouraged to be involved on campus. During SGA elections, we always have more than a handful of women running for office. You can always find a sister in just about every organization, from Campus Outreach to The LARPer's Guild. If there is an opportunity knocking on the door, you can bet that one of the sisters of Chi Omega will answer the door.

Thank you for more than just "four years." "Chi Omega, yours forever" is not just something we say to look cute or sound meaningful. Chi Omega is seriously yours for eternity. I know that I will carry Chi O with me for many years to come. I know that these women won't be just a memory for me. They will be more than just a study partner or a friend. These are the women that will be my bridesmaids. These are the women that will show up at my wedding and sing "Shades." Our sisterhood does not end as soon as we earn our degree.

Thank you for showing me the importance of being intellectual. Chi Omegas are notorious for being the smart girls. I am so glad that I have found a place where brains are just as important as beauty. My GPA has gone up since pledging. I know I will never have to search too far for a study buddy and know that having a brain is something to be proud of.

Thank you for my littles. Self-explanatory, honestly. Thank you for giving me a chance to love and be loved. Thank you for giving me a chance to show others the ropes and the opportunity to be a positive influence. I am grateful that I am able to take pride in two people as if they were my own blood. I am thankful that I have been able to form a bond that can never be broken.

Thank you for igniting my passion to serve others. Our philanthropy has truly opened my eyes to so much. The Make-a-Wish foundation is one of the most amazing philanthropic organizations, and I cannot think of anything better to raise money for. Our Wish Weeks are more than just silly competitions and parties. We raise money for children with life-threatening diseases and conditions. We are able to help give these children something to fight for. We are able to give them hope and a reason, a chance. Chi Omega also gives us the opportunity to serve our community in vast areas. I know that many sisters volunteer for organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and the Christian Love Community Development Center. We are taught that giving back to our community is just as important as giving to our philanthropy. I love that we see a need in our own backyard and actively go out to find a solution.

Thank you for giving me my soulmates. No, I do not mean a man. I mean my true friends and the people who understand my soul more than anyone else. These women are more than just my roommates and friends. They are the people who are there for me when I have a bad day at work and that let me cry to them when I just "can't even" anymore. These women are the ones who eat dinner with me every night and understand my obsessions with dogs and the Game Show Network. Thank you, Chi Omega, for giving them to me and for allowing me to love like I never have.

Thank you for helping me find myself. I never really thought I would ever fit into a sorority. I was the first in my family to attend a four-year university and I thought my chances of being Greek were slim to none. However, I was very wrong. Chi Omega saw me for more than my grades or my resumé. They saw me for me, not the typical sorority girl I was trying to be. Chi Omega allowed me to flourish into a better sister, daughter, Christian, and friend. Chi Omega saw the diamond in the rough and they turned me into someone who is worth far more than rubies. I was shown that being lovable was more important than being popular and that sincerity was a virtue. Rather than pushing me into a cookie cutter mold, Chi Omega carefully shaped me into my own person. Chi O led me to serve, to lead, and to be the best me that I could be.

Thank you for letting me be more than just letters on a shirt.Thank you Chi Omega for allowing me to flourish.Thank you for showing me that cardinal and straw are actually two of the best colors to ever exist. Thank you for making it impossible to not buy that cute owl shower curtain at Target and that owl shirt at forever21. Thank you for showing me that pearls are a girl's best friend and that carnations are quite simply the most beautiful flower on the planet. Thank you, Chi O, for having the most obvious and easy hand sign. I love that it doesn't take me 15 minutes and a Google search to remember how to throw what I know. Thank you for teaching me that a skull and crossbones is not scary, but sacred. Thank you for baby hooties and owl pals. Thank you for allowing only the best to enter the nest. Thank you for letting me hashtag my Instagram posts with #tilidieO and #eXplΩre as many times as I please. Thank you for amazing women like Lucy Liu, Pat Summitt, and Harper Lee. Thank you for ritual. Thank you for tradition and for being the largest chapter in the world. Thank you, Chi Omega, the house that built me. You are amazing and your symphony has no discordant note. I am so glad that you became more than just a house, but a home.

Chi O love and mine,

Bronte Pruitt