Feeling Nostalgic.

It was a successful weekend in ThetaLand. My Little sister now has her own Little sister, my Greek family has new babies to take care of and guide through their next (approximately) four years, and for all intents and purposes we initiated 60 happy and bright eyed girls into our sisterhood. Congratulations ladies!

You knew that couldn't be the extent of this right? Okay good!

Part of the fun of getting a little and initiation week is crafting goodies for the new girls, baking things that they will be running off for the next month, embroidering our letters on shirts, hoodies, towels, tote bags, back packs.. You get the picture.. and then finally revealing our chapter's deep dark rituals and ethic codes to the girls once they've taken their oath to forever hold them dear to their hearts. AKA, they have to swear on everything they are that they won't tell a soul what out hand shake is, what our saying "YBM" means, etc. It brings every Theta across the country and even over seas together. When you see letters you know you have a sister and that you and she know things the rest of the world doesn't. It's kind if exciting and empowering actually.

In our particular sorority, our girls aren't allowed to wear letters until they are officially initiated. Meaning they can wear shirts that say "Kappa Alpha Theta" like it's going out if style but they can't wear "KAO" until they are a sister. It's one extra step we take to ensure that every girl representing our letters knows just what they mean and that they are representing something bigger than themselves. With those letters come great responsibility. You're probably thinking "Okay Obi Wan Kenobi".. But really it's special, and I'm beginning to realize, finite.

When I joined 3 years ago, I wanted all of that. Sisters, a big, a ton of littles, socials, boys, to live in a mansion with 45 other girls, to paint banners, be in dance practices until 2am for philanthropies, be president some day. Everything except that last part came true too. Then I became a Senior in college, realized I was spending thousands of dollars and hundreds of tireless hours on things and people who weren't going to get me a job when I graduated. Yes holding a position within my organization looks great on law school applications and résumés. I can honestly say I found my maid of honor in my big sister and that I would take a bullet for my littles. I planned socials, networked, raised money for an amazing organization (CASA - court appointed special advocates, Kappa Alpha Theta's national philanthropy, google it they are incredible), and truly have memories that will last me forever. I'd like to think that the hours I put in, relationships with other organizations I helped establish and the money I raised & spent shaped my chapter. No, I firmly believe those things.

This where it gets tricky. When I left, I trusted that my sisters would keep on the path that the girls in my Theta generation and the ones before me carved. Forever classy ladies, forever diverse, intellectual and beautiful in and out. I handed my position to a girl who I hoped would choose socials with fraternities who appreciated all if those things, helped elect a president we had faith in to keep building our sisterhood both within our girls and from a public relations stand point and took part in recruiting girls who we loved and trusted to recruit in the same manner. That's where we, as inactive and alum have to take a step back and watch, and hope for the best.

My letters, even through the ups and downs of my experience in the Greek system mean the world to me. I am a Theta for a lifetime and the lessons I learned transcend into life, even if the years I spent in the sorority were the FARTHEST thing from REAL life.

Bucket List of the day: Pass the torch to my littles. Faith, Hope & Love.. And the greatest of these is love. Good luck girls, make me proud standing where I once stood :)