This week marks a year since I made the amazing move to join a sorority at the College of Charleston. I was excited but I was also nervous to start a new part of college life that I wasn’t originally planning on taking.

This past year was filled with ups and downs, especially in sorority life where I suddenly had a whole new family to meet and get to know. I wouldn’t trade this past year for anything though because my sisters have made me so strong and I couldn’t imagine not having them in my life.

Almost immediately after I joined Phi Mu I met a flood of new people all at once. Thankfully, I already knew a few people going in, but I was truly blessed to meet a hundred and fifty more women with whom I shared a common bond. Sure, I wouldn’t get along with every single girl, but having a whole new group of women who I could go to whenever I wanted.

In this chapter, I have sisters who I work with, who I’ve seen get leadership positions, who I’ve seen grow as women and who have helped me grow. I never hesitate to walk into that beautiful pink house and talk to the girls that live there or to message a sister for a coffee date whenever I’m feeling down or need someone to talk to.

My sisters have always been there for me and I can say that without a shadow of a doubt. Last semester when I wasn’t having a great time at school, I had Phi Mu to bring me out of my apartment to see the sisters that really cared about how I was doing and feeling.

Although I have made the decision to transfer schools, my girls were supportive of me through the whole process. From the very moment I started telling people about my decision, yes, they were sad about it but they wanted me to be happy and therefore they were so supportive.

Each day they wanted to know what the next step was or how I was feeling about certain aspects of it. No matter what, my sisters always had their hearts open for me.

The Phi Mu house at the College of Charleston has become my home. Nothing can change that. I could go there at any point and still feel like I belong there.

I’m going to miss my sisters there and the house that welcomed me into the Phi Mu sisterhood but I’m excited about the road ahead of me. I’ll meet more sisters and have a lot of great memories, but I’ll never forget my Chucktown ladies who welcomed me and loved me from the very beginning.

No matter where I am, Alpha Kappa will be my first home and my rock. I love you ladies, forever in our bond.