Sisterless to 300 Sisters - My journey going from an only child to one of 300

Being able to say that I went from being an only child to having 300 sisters is an interesting feeling. When thinking about my sisters, I feel this unexplainable sense of joy that they have come into my life. I refuse to lie to you all and say that it was sunshine and rainbows from the start though. 

When I signed up for sorority recruitment, I didn’t believe in the sisterhood aspect. I thought it was an unrealistic expectation to find a house full of women who I have unconditional love for and genuinely enjoy spending time with. I told myself and my friends from high school that I was only going to rush for the networking opportunities, private chef and philanthropy work. 

Then, I began recruitment, and on day one I met Shree (MC ‘23), who became a light in my whole week. She was the very first recruiter I spoke to at Chi O, and after our conversation I never wanted to leave the 807. Returning for the sisterhood round, I was not sure what to expect. Of course, I had a great group of friends in high school, but I had never found women who I would consider my sisters. 

Brooke at Big Little Reveal

On that day, I met Carly (MC ‘22). By the end of our conversation, I was crying. She was what I imagined a big sister to be like. We are in the same college here at UF, so she is always happy to give me academic advice. The thing that I never expected from Carly was for her to introduce me to my big. 

Bid Day 2024 was one of the most important days of my life. Not only did I join this sisterhood with women who I adore, but I also met my big, Cat (MC ‘23). Coincidentally (not that I believe anything is a coincidence), Cat is Carly’s little, and I can’t imagine a better set of women to bring me into this sisterhood. 

The upside of now having 300 sisters is that everyone is constantly doing something different. In high school, my friends were the other girls on my volleyball team and on my yearbook staff. Coming to college, I was scared that I would be unable to branch out and meet people outside of my major. My big is an animal science major with a passion for law and ethics. My future roomie, Mila (MC ‘24), is a geography major who wants a career in data mapping. And we have so many other sisters participating in such diverse careers and organizations. 

To be completely transparent with you, there is one downside. My member class had 83 women in it with 8 more added on in the spring. I see myself as a person who is very good with names, but it was impossible at the beginning to know them all. Even now, there are a few girls who I see wandering around the house whose names I don’t know. 

Brooke, Mila, and Emma Grace (MC '24)

My only rebuttal to that is this: I would still do anything for them, as they would for me. I don’t have to know their name to know they are a Chi Omega. These women taught me what the word “sister” means, and I am proud to call all 300 of them my sisters. 

Great things are coming, XOXO,

Brooke (MC ‘24)