ZTA is Forever: A Big-Lil duo like no other
My name is Caroline, and I joined Zeta Tau Alpha in the pledge class of 2015. My big, Sarah, and I have a very unique relationship. For example, Sarah always liked to remind me how she never really wanted a Little. Those conversations typically went like this:
Me: Flinging Sarah’s door open and jumping on her while she’s taking a nap: “Sarah, wake up, this is super important, what soup do you most identify with?”
Sarah: “You know, I never wanted a Little…..Potato”
Me: Sobbing incoherently
Sarah: Opening her arms and comforting me for the next hour “....You know I never wanted a Little”
Me: “Sarah, I think I’m having a mid-life crisis”
Sarah: deep sighs while handing me an Icee just the way I like it “I really never wanted a Little”
For me, though, Sarah’s constant reminder that she never wanted a Little means something different. The phrase isn’t said in disgust or anger, but in love. Sarah never wanted a Little, and to be honest, I never really wanted a Big. However, we both got a lot more than we bargained for.
Since my freshman Bid Day, Sarah and I have been inseparable. She was my bid day buddy and got far more than she anticipated. Sarah’s apartment was across the street from my dorm room, so I was constantly there, even when she wasn’t. Every day I would ask, “You know you’re taking me as a Little right?” and her response would always be “No I am not. I’m not taking a Little.” The day before I had to list my top choices for a Big, Sarah looked at me and said, “You know, I guess if you put me on your list, I won’t say no.” The rest is history (but let’s be real, she was always at the top of my list).
My junior year, Sarah was accepted into the Disney College Program, and I couldn’t be more excited for her. On some level, I was freaking out! All I could think about was how was I going to be without my best friend for an entire year?! Our daily chats turned into once-a-week 2 am Facetime calls. Icee runs turned into Sarah mailing me mickey mouse rice krispies, and our superficial friendship turned into something more concrete. We were in different time zones, working different hours, and living different lives, but that never really changed anything. When your best friend ditches you for a year to go play in Disney, it really tests the bonds formed from spending everyday together and makes them real.
Sarah’s been there for me for everything throughout college, from changing majors to changing boyfriends. She is the type of person that no matter how bad of a day she’s having, if you go to her, she will be there for you. I can’t count the number of Icee runs, all-nighters, and vent sessions we’ve had over the course of 4 years. Whenever I need her, I know she’ll be there, no matter what, no questions asked.
There’s a saying in Zeta Tau Alpha that “Zeta is Forever”. I never really understood what that meant until now. I’m not really sure what the future holds. Sarah wants to move back to Florida, and I want to go wherever the wind takes me. We may be countries or minutes apart, who knows. But one thing I do know is Zeta gave me a Big and a best friend that I will have forever, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
