Dear Little,

Last night, you finally officially became my little. I knew that I wanted you to be my little since our kite sister date the week after recruitment, although I joked about it even before that. Your friendship has meant so much to me the last few weeks, and I am so excited that we chose each other.

Tonight you will finally be initiated into the first Greek letter fraternity for women. You will become part of the sisterhood that Bettie Locke created when she refused to be a mascot for her brother’s fraternity. You will learn what this organization truly stands for and what it means to call yourself a Theta. Tonight, you will become a Theta for the rest of your life, and I am so excited and honored that I get to share this experience with you. Tonight, on the night of your initiation, there are a few hopes I have that I want to share with you.

1. I hope that you take all the chances you can to be a leading woman.

To Thetas, “Leading Women” is more than just a tagline. Theta offers you so many opportunities to lead the chapter, from semester long committees, holding an office, or just being a positive and influential example to your sisters. You will get as much out of your Theta experience as you put into it. I hope you do as much as you want to and are never afraid of trying out something new. I know that if you take responsible risks and take advantage of new opportunities, it will be a positive experience that you won’t regret.

2. I hope you never forget why you joined, and why you love Theta.

Being in a sorority is a big commitment. We have mandatory meetings, service hours, philanthropy events, workshops, and have to keep a certain GPA. Sometimes these commitments can seem like a drag, and they can be easy to complain about. However, I promise all of these things are worth it. Theta will help you grow as a person, make some of your strongest friendships, and make some of your best memories. In order to reap these benefits, you must put time and work into our organization. If you ever feel like this commitment isn’t worth it anymore, think back to tonight, and remember why you love Theta.

3. I hope you are never afraid to be yourself

While you have chosen to be a part of an amazing organization, never forget that you are an individual. In a group where everyone wears the same letters, it is so important to have diversity and individuality, but it can be far too easy to feel that you need to act like what everyone thinks a “sorority girl” should act like. Honestly, with your personality, confidence, and individuality, I am not worried about you acting someone you aren’t, but when everyone in the room is talking about last night’s episode of "The Bachelor," it can sometimes be hard to say that you would rather watch paint dry than watch that show. By all means, change parts of you that you want to for the better, and grow as a person. But never, ever, be afraid to be uniquely you.

Along with these hopes I have for you, I also have some promises. I promise to be the best possible big that I can for you. If you need anything at all, I am committed to being there for you. Whether you need to vent, eat some good food, or have a night in with a movie, I am here for you. I promise to always tell you the truth, and to try my hardest to be a good example for you. I promise to always invite you to come hang out with the rest of our family, and to introduce you to all of my other friends. I am so excited to see what the next few years hold for us. I love you so much Little!

Theta Love and All of Mine,

Big