It’s a mentorship. It’s a friendship. It’s a relationship. Having a Greek Big is all these things and so much more. I could list everything that a Big is to their Little, but Big and Little relationships are like nothing I have ever experienced before, and they are something that is so special and so unique that words cannot do justice to perfectly describe how amazing and rewarding it is to have a Big who you love and who loves you back. To me, having a Greek Big means that I will always have someone I can count on to be my rock, my shoulder to cry on, my teacher in life and my best friend. Even when our time in college is over — like it is for my Big — distance does not tear us apart because no matter what happens in our lives, our Big and Little bond in irreplaceable and unbreakable because she is my family and I am hers. So no matter what obstacles we face, no matter how the tides in life turn, family is forever.
As a new member in a Greek organization it can be intimidating to suddenly find yourself surrounded by so many people, especially when you have yet to make friends with every individual. You now have a place you can always call your home, but there will come the day when you find that one person amongst the crowd who becomes more special to you than anyone else. That person is your Big, and your Big will always be your family. It’s kind of hard to explain how a Big and Little relationship forms. I guess you just know deep within your heart that you two are meant to be together, even if you realize it or not.
I know I can count on my Big whenever I need her. Whether we’re at a philanthropy event or on a dinner date, I cherish how open and willing to listen my Big is. Whenever I have something serious on my mind, I immediately want to tell my Big because out of everyone, she’s the one person I can for sure count on who will meet with me and talk. Sometimes I can’t believe the amount of patience she has with me. I honestly don’t know how she handles me when I’m acting crazy or disagreeing with her or don’t really know what is going on, but somehow she deals with me without complaint — usually she’ll laugh at me for being so ridiculous, which makes me love her even more. She accepts me for who I am, and in return I accept her for every wonderful, awkward, genuine thing that makes up who she is.
My Big is my person and my family, and when you have something as amazing as this, it’s impossible to let this relationship go. Having a Greek Big means that I will have a soul mate and a best friend. In the good times and in the bad, despite distance or hectic schedules, my Big is a constant presence in my life. If I’m being honest, I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have someone as special and amazing as my Big to laugh at my stupid jokes, to go on beach trips with and to keep me grounded. My college life and the life I will lead after will not be the same without my Big. So here’s to the good times and the bad, to the awkward moments and the endless laughs, to the future and whatever it may hold. Our flame will endure forever, Big.
