We met last spring when we began our training as Panhellenic Counselors. We didn’t know each other and stuck around the girls from our own chapters. We took personality quizzes to gauge who we would work best with, and figured out if we were gold or blue or orange AF. We mingled (kinda) a few times, then left for the summer, excited for recruitment, but not realizing what was in store for us.

Then we found out.

Food. So much food. Presentations. Free pens. The Gaines-Oldham Black Culture Center. Dip night. Practicing every chapter’s song, but messing up a billion times. The Women’s Center. The RSVP Center. The Multi-Cultural Center. Title IX. SHIRTS. Water bottles. Venture Out. Mock recruitment. Deactivating Facebook :/. Agendas, schedules, questions, concerns, answers, what-ifs, more what-ifs, more food, more questions, more answers.

All of these things were structured and planned for us, but what wasn’t planned was how we formed our own irreplaceable sisterhood, and found our best friends all over again.

Being a Pi Chi was harder than I thought. Not because of having to reach out to women who had been released from the recruitment process, but because of the women we encountered who did not appreciate what our community values: sisterhood, scholarship, leadership, and service. Unfortunately, we all encountered some potential new members who never realized that all 15 chapters are connected by these values, and that we share and appreciate our own huge sisterhood. It was very difficult listening to PNMs disrespect a community they weren’t even a part of yet. But you guys were all so cool and brave and remained disaffiliated even when they were talking about your own chapter. You guys are my heroes.

I never thought that I would love any part of Greek life more than my own chapter, but two weeks with you women made me love my own chapter even more, but also love every chapter in our community just as much. It made me realize that I would thrive in ANY chapter, because at the end of the day, they’re all filled with hardworking, beautiful, hilarious, brave souls that make us feel at home.

Weaved throughout the strict schedules of those two weeks were tiny moments that built up and stuck with us. We forgot that we didn’t know each other just a couple of weeks before. We leaned on each other, learned from each other, and shared a few tears, but infinitely more laughs. As Greek women, we are always wearing our letters, and I’ll wear my letters louder and prouder than ever because I now share them with you. Hehe.

So thank you, Pi Chis. You make me want to be better. Love you more than getting attendance in early!!! (LOLOL that never happened. Jk. Yes it did, because we were awesome and #punctual. Bye. Miss ya. You're all the shit.)