I was not born into the Greek system, it was not something I grew up dreaming about. But I remember the moment I decided to go Greek. I was a junior in high school and I was at a scholarship meeting at the University of Texas. A college senior walked up to the podium to introduce herself, she was an honors student in two of the hardest academic programs on a full-ride scholarship and she was also her sorority chapter president. I looked at my mom and told her that was going to be me one day. I saw being in a sorority as an opportunity to better myself and to grow as a leader.
When I came to Ole Miss, I was looking for a group of girls that would not only become my best friends, but who would help me become to Greek woman I dreamt of being. I found that and so much more in the women of the Epsilon Zeta chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. Because of the women in my house, my life has forever been changed. My sisters are more than just my best friends, they are my cheerleaders, my role models, and they are the reason I know that everything is going to be okay.
I never imagined that my collegiate Greek career was going to end this way, but I cannot express how thankful I am to have been an Ole Miss Theta. I would not trade my time in Theta for anything in the world, not for the biggest house or the best social calendar. This past year was everything I had dreamt of and so much more. Theta has taught me what it means to truly be a leading woman and I plan on continuing to understand what that means through this experience. My next 2 years of college are going to look a lot different than I planned, but it be like that sometimes. I know that God does not give us more than we can handle, but right now this still seems like an impossible challenge.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Everyone keeps reminding me that I am so much more than the letters on my t-shirt. And, I agree. For me it was never about the letters, it was about the people and the values. Over the past year, I have realized how honored I was to be able to call the women at 592 Rebel Drive my sisters. They have encouraged me and supported me like no other group of girls has before, and I know that even after this they will always be there for me.
To MC 18: I wish you would have had the chance to grow in Theta the way I did, but I hope you know that you were truly a part of something special. You will always have a sister in me and I cannot wait to watch y’all grow as young leading women. To MC 14, 15 & 16: Thank you for being my role models and for showing me what it looked like to be a courageous woman on this campus. To MC 17: I still cannot believe that just a short year ago we weren’t in each other’s lives. Thank you for being my best friends and for always reminding me that we can all change the world. Each of you touched my life in some way and I just don’t know how to thank y’all enough. To my perfect little family: I love you all with my entire heart, I can’t wait for more Rice & Spice dates and sister sleepovers. To my roommates, my parents and my sister: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting me through these past few days, it means more than y’all know.
This is not the end, this is only a new beginning. I am excited to see what new doors this opens in my life, I will certainly have more free time. Rest EZ, Ole Miss Theta and remember legEndZ never die. TLAM🌟