What is a Sorority Family?

In a sorority, you get a big sister during your new member process and that big will be your big for the rest of your life. Where things get confusing is when sorority families begin to form. When you get your big, their big becomes your grand big, etc. When/if you big takes another little, that new little becomes your twin. You might not get the chance to meet your great-great grand big, or even your grand-big, but they are still a part of your family. Families will get larger as more girls are brought into your sorority and when members graduate, they do not leave the family.

Having a sorority family means more than just having stronger connections with the girls in your sorority. It means family pictures, sleepovers, family trips, a family name, a legacy. My family name is the Forget Me Nots. This name comes from one of the flowers of Alpha Phi, a forget me not flower. Not every member of the family can make every picture or be at every event, but it is always important to document precious moments anyways.

Just about every semester we take family pictures. This is not only a good way to remember our family, but it is also something that we can pass on to future generations of the Forget Me Not family so they can see how we are all connected. Every photo shoot will have a color scheme to go along with it. This is to ensure that we all are matching in some way, but still have freedom to do whatever we want with the colors. Here are some family pictures from over the last few years:

These years colors were turquoise, black & grey. We used the surroundings of Southern Utah University as our backdrop.

This year (2014), our color scheme was fall colors and we used the back drop of Zion National Park in Southern Utah. 

Of course planned photo shoots are not the only time we get together to take pictures. At any large event, we make sure to take pictures. These events include but are not limited to sisterhood retreats, initiation, Red Dress Gala, big/little sister reveal, family adventures. 

This is my home away from home. This is the best family I could have ever asked for when leaving home. I have seen these women grow tremendously & I am so proud to not only call them my sisters but also my family. AOE.