Last year, recruitment was a whirlwind. After a time-consuming week of walking from house to house and watching what felt like one thousand philanthropy videos, you finally found a sorority to call your home on campus
You blink your eyes and before you know it, the new semester welcomes a new group of women to your sisterhood. You are no longer the new kids on the block. A few weeks pass and the new faces suddenly become familiar. Then, the day comes that you finally become a Big Sister. Your life will be changed forever.
1. You are hers and she is yours.
Overprotective (and obsessed) would be an understatement. While no one would ever forget your real names, you are now ‘sister so-and-so’s’ Big and she is now your Little. When you introduce her to your friends, you feel obligated to let them know she is your Little.
2. Chances are, you recruited her.
We all know the feeling of flying through each round of recruitment, eagerly waiting for your favorite girls to return from the previous day. During preference round, you two bawled your eyes out together. On Bid Day, she jumped straight into your arms; you both fell to the ground, and neither of you cared. She was your number one pick, and now she is part of your family.
3. Two words: New t-shirts.
Upon taking a little, it is an unwritten rule that you provide them with some rockin’ sorority gear. I’m talking letters on EVERYTHING. The best part is you now have an excuse to shop for yourself because, well, everyone wants to match their little.
4. Oh, and you can’t forget about the crafts. Duh.
Even if you are not the next Picasso, glitter and rhinestones can make people think otherwise. It’s been years since you visited a craft store and now it’s time for your destined reunion. While in the process of crafting, you realize you bought a few too many canvases. Oh well, I guess you’ll just have to make something for your own bedroom, now.
5. Someone is always looking up to you.
You were the first person in your sorority that she confided in; you answered all her questions and reminded her that chapter meetings are on Monday nights. You even told her that she should look into applying for merchandise chair because she’s so trendy. Part of her success in this sorority is a result of the guidance you have offered her. Use that as your motivation to forever strive to be the best woman you can be.
6. She is always down to match outfits at mixers.
She is the angel to your devil, the mathlete to your athlete, and the vital second half to the dancing girls emoticon.
7. She is the little sister your mother never gave you.
As much as you may love your brother, tutus and tiaras just weren’t his thing. Your little, however, would never turn down a good dress up party.
8. You have similar likes and dislikes.
You know this because it is most likely what you bonded over. The easiest way to get to know someone is to ask what their interests are. An even better way is to ask what they dislike. “Oh my gosh, you hate when girls wear white pants after Labor Day, too?”
9. You also have similar habits; both good and bad.
Within your first few conversations you have found out that your little loves early morning spin classes, biting her fingernails, and putting ketchup on her mac and cheese. Guess what? You do too.
10. She will tell you what she first thought about you.
You may have never realized that your strong personality and overly sarcastic sense of humor might be intimidating at times. Or, you may have never realized that you seem frightened to open your mouth. Your little will tell you these things, and you will benefit greatly from hearing them.
11. She’s not the kind of little sister that annoys you.
She won’t spit gum in your hair or steal all of the clothes in your closet. She also won’t tell Mom what you did last night or embarrass you in front of your new boyfriend. Well, she might steal your clothes, but she will ask you first.
12. You now have a home on campus.
You are well into your junior year and are living in a beach house somewhere. If your little is an underclassman, she probably still lives on campus. Welcome back to the days of having a warm bed to climb into in between classes. Her nap space is now your nap space. Boo-yah.
13. You expand each other’s taste in music.
You and your roommates have been exchanging playlists for months but I’m not sure how many more times I can hear the song The Heart Wants What It Wants by Ariana Grande. Now that you have a little who probably shares a similar taste in music, think of all the jams you’ve been missing out on.
14. Photo-ops.
Ninety percent of the times you see your little out in public, you two just have to take a picture. As long as you both look good, of course. Instagram, here we come! #Big #Little #Blessed
15. You are just truly a match made in heaven.