By Tristen Coffee | 2016 Member Class
As a freshman I remember meeting a few seniors in Chi Omega and thinking to myself, “These women are who I want to be in three years.” The way they carried themselves, the way they loved people, and the way their identities were clearly rooted in something Higher drew me in. Well, today I graduated from Baylor University and whether or not I am emulating those role models well, I am grateful beyond words for the journey. Chi O has been one of the most formative parts of college. One that I never could have planned for myself.
At the end of the day, Chi Omega is just a sorority. But the caliber of the people within Chi Omega make it so much more than a group of girls who have a couple Greek letters in common. The women that comprise Theta Kappa are like none other; I am regularly in awe. From the new members to my fellow graduates, each and every woman has shaped the culture of the chapter in some irreplaceable way. Our differences make us more whole and our love for one another makes us stronger. It amazes me what I have learned from girls three years younger than me in the past few months alone. Never again will I have 350+ ladies who are on my team and want the best for me. These girls have been my hype men, confidants, and intercessors. Having that anchor throughout the rollercoaster that is college has been nothing short of a gift.
During the past three-and-a-half years, I have been equipped to lead well, seen Biblical community modeled, and felt encouraged in a way I could never even ask for. I have made friendships that I know I don’t deserve but that I also know will last a lifetime. I have been spurred on in my faith, challenged in my weaknesses, and championed in my strengths. Bid days, Sing performances, and anything involving a dance floor have been some of the most fun memories of college, and those were simply icing on the cake. To this day, I still don’t understand how I got lucky enough to end up here, but I’m not going to question it.
I don’t think that anything could have fully prepared me for the closing of this chapter (pun intended), but having had the opportunity to be a part of Baylor Chi Omega makes it that much harder to exit this season. Theta Kappa, you have impacted not only my college experience, but my life for the better.