The Way It Goes

I have been a part of my sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, for all four years of college. I owe everything I have to it. I have met my best friends and had the best experiences and memory all because of Theta. When you are graduating, you are able to write an ‘inspiration’ to read to the chapter, where you talk about who has impacted you the most and your experience in the chapter. This is the inspiration that I wrote:

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My all-time favorite quote is, “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” Anytime a chapter of my life is closing or there is change in the near future, I always come back to this. Because it reminds me that if something is hard to let go of, it meant everything while it lasted.

With this chapter closing after 4 amazing years, my something—the thing that’s making saying goodbye feel impossible—is my friends.

When I look back on college, I will think about the 13 girls who were growing up alongside me. I will remember the nights we spent sitting on the roof of the Ville, the days spent rotting at square peg, the best Wednesday nights at tav, our trips to Miami and Mexico and Canada, Trivia Tuesdays, three national championships, and so much more. Somewhere in the midst of all that chaos, I found my people.

I realized these girls were my people in a time of loss and heartbreak. They were the ones who constantly showed up for me. They picked me up, checked in on me, reminded me who I was. Because of their care, I walked out of that heartbreak knowing that they they were the best thing that has ever happened to me. They were the ones all along that were meant for me. I was looking for love in all the wrong places. It was right there, on the second floor of the Ville. These are the people who made this place feel like home.

Sometimes I genuinely ask myself: how did I live, laugh, or breathe before I met you? Life before you girls feels blurry—I can’t imagine it without you. You brought color, chaos, comfort, and clarity into my life. Every day with you is a day I never want to end. Whether we’re planning a trip, getting ready for a pregame, doing absolutely nothing, or spiraling over something ridiculous—you make the ordinary day feel unforgettable. And I look around in those moments and am so grateful that I get to have all of this.

You are my village. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that it really does take a village to help you learn, grow, and figure your shit out. And I would not trade mine for the world. My village makes me laugh, makes me feel confident, makes me feel loved, and they make me, me. My inspiration is to my village. The 13 women who are dependable, generous, beautiful, kind, unique, and whom I love with every piece in me. You’ve made me laugh until I cried, held me when I needed it most, built me up when I couldn’t do it alone. And I can say with full confidence: I am at my best when I am with these people.

Saying goodbye to this version of us—these twenty something year old girls, who take 10+ shots of Costco tequila every night, who eat hot dogs from the ground, who wake up with a sweatshirt on their legs like pants, who find their shirts under duck, who get married in a wedding dress covered in dirt, who sleep in their makeup and going out clothes, who take naps on the toilet of huskies, who are constantly having fun—is heartbreaking. Because this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience spending college with you guys. It’s been everything I could’ve hoped for and more.

But the thing is, even though this chapter is closing, I know you are forever.

And there is no way I could stand up here talking about what this experience has meant to me without talking about the people who made it was it was. Each of you have shaped me in your own way and left a different kind of impact on me.

Saskia

You’ve taught me that it’s okay to have a different mindset than other people and to stand confidently in who you are. You’ve made me more mature, more grounded, and you never hesitated to put me in my place when I needed it. This semester hasn’t felt right without you, I miss you so much 

Julia

My weekend roommate. Every Saturday waking up and making breakfast and coffee with you never gets old. You radiate warmth, happiness, and joy wherever you go. Any student is going to be so lucky to have you as their teacher.  But FTB. 

Gigi

Gigi, you are one of the most hardworking, passionate people I’ve ever met. You make all of us so proud — not just for what you do, but for who you are. Every time I see you, I’m just can’t help but just smile and jump up and down because you energy is infectious. I am so happy I met you freshman year, bonding about our nose piercings, and then to you joining theta the next you.  I love your mom, cheers to the halls 

Kavya

My lavvy. My travel person forever. Thank God Florence brought us together. Drinking Hugo spritzes by the Duomo, teaching me about the real gelato, running into Alisha Marie in the streets. You have a way of making people feel seen and cheering them up immediately. You just understand stand me, and let’s wear our Bronx shirts forever. 

Sarah

You are the definition of driven. Your work ethic is unmatched, your loyalty is unwavering, and the way you show up for your people is something I deeply admire. You’re the mom, the therapist, the hype girl, and the rock — all in one person. You hold us together in ways you probably don’t even realize

Michelle

The little I never wanted, but wow am I so lucky to have gotten so close with you. My worst influence, devil on my shoulder, and best friend all in one. I love the chaos you are constantly bringing to us. There is genuinely never a dull moment when you’re around. I am grateful that UConn brought us together, and I can’t wait to spend the summer with you at home. And it just makes sense that we both got fired from our bartending jobs. Also this might be a good time to admit that I bid promised Michelle. But actually no one do that Liv will kill you 

Amanda

My moo. My person since genuinely day 1 here at UConn. You were there for all of my firsts. First party, first breakup, first situationship. First everything. We figured it all out together. The things I would do to be back in that little pink shoebox of a room. We’ve grown up together in the last four years. I’ve watched you become you, you’ve watched me become me, and it’s been a gift. 

No

And now for the people who let me basically live with them as long as I pay my dues of doing the dishes. My nut house girls. There is never a dull moment in that house. I am so grateful for every single one of you. Thank you for letting me be your seventh roommate.

Lindsay

You are the people’s princess, everyones favorite, and the most beautiful girl there is. You are a walking ray of sunshine – you light up every room just by being in it. You are also pure chaos in the best way – life would be so boring without you. To more concerts running around trying to get VIP. L&L forever

Josie aka Smelly

You have the rare gift of knowing exactly what someone needs, even when they don’t say a word. You love people in the most thoughtful, gentle, and intentional way. Your creativity, your silliness, and your constant laughter make every moment feel lighter. Being loved by you is easy, it’s comforting, and it’s one of the most genuine things I’ve ever known.

Emma

My sophomore year roomie. We were not super close before room 210, but thank god for it because I needed an Emma in my life. Me and you are so similar, and we just work together. I miss eating pickles on our floor and our Sunday cleans. I miss the time you brought my cowboy boot to the bathroom and we all thought you threw up in it. I feel like I am always giggling when we are together. You are positive, motivated, and you make me feel at home. But please never kick me again in the shin.  

Kirsten

You are genuinely one of the funnest people I know. Your ideas are absolutely insane sometimes, but they always make life so exciting. You are outgoing and full of the most fun energy, and also one of the most thoughtful and considerate people I’ve ever met. You are always reaching out, and it never goes unnoticed. I miss laying in your bed every single day in the ville and I might even miss when you repeat the exact same thing that we just said. 

Mackenna

There is truly no one like you. You’re the glue that holds us together, the reason everything’s always fun, and the kind of friend people spend their whole life hoping to find. You just have something about you that makes me happy all the time. From freshman year to now, you are one of the people who has stuck by my side constantly. I can’t wait to be unemployed in Fairfield together and take on Europe with you this summer seeing daddy dom and fisher once again  — it’s us and our third friend forever. 

Sydney

My moonshine. You came into my life exactly when I needed you most. We have the type of friendship that I feel like just happened overnight.  You’ve been my calm in the chaos of life, my safe space, and the person who always knows what to say, even when I don’t know what I need. I know without a doubt you’ll be in my life forever. Our relationship is so, so special to me, and I know without a doubt you’ll be in my life forever. Some people are just soulmate connections — and you’re mine.

Feeling loved by each and every one of you has been the highlight of my college experience. I hope we are best friends in every life. Because of you, saying goodbye is the hardest thing of all. 

My advice to everyone else is choose people who choose you. Say yes to everything that comes your way. Don’t choose boys over times with your friends. Get drunk and don’t worry about it the next day. Everything happens for a reason. Spend as much time as you can with the people you love.

Theta, I am so thankful for you. You changed my life forever. 

TLAM & and that’s the way it goes,

Lids