Ali Kitchin

Over the past three and a half years, Chi Omega has seeped into my entire life. Not even in a bad, wow-that’s-making-a-mess kind of seeping either. More like how you feel when you do better on a test than you had originally thought. Or like when you are driving and two of your favorite songs come on the radio in a row by pure chance. Chi O has been a wonderfully unexpected joyful experience. Now that I am a sappy senior, I am realizing the best (and most fun) ways I see Chi O in daily life. Here are some of my favorites out of the many that come to mind:

Chi O is laughter. Chi O is roommates who truly get me. Chi O is Czech Stop at midnight because kolaches. Chi O is asking how my test went, even when I only briefly mentioned it 3 days ago. Chi O is knowing that when I come home, someone will inevitably yell “YAY!” from wherever they are in the house. Chi O is late night chatty couch time, when all of us really need to go to bed. Chi O is popcorn kernels made on the stove. Chi O is a diva jar to keep us all in check. Chi O is crying or laughing (or some combination of the two) with free-of-charge back rubs and helpful insight.

Chi O is personal, emotional, social and professional growth. Chi O is giving and serving. Chi O is compassionate and FUN at the same time. Chi O is Make-a-Wish. Chi O is bigs, littles, grandlittles, and (soon!) great-grandlittles. Chi O is loving and supportive.

Chi O is laser tag in Austin because we are ridiculously competitive. Chi O is eating a ridiculous amount of breakfast tacos and queso with my friends. Chi O is cliff jumping into Lake Whitney. Chi O is potato baseball and playing music too loud. Chi O is understanding that Beyoncé is queen of the world, and we are all just guests. Chi O is overcommitting to dress-up themes. Chi O is wearing a neon green wig to semi-formal surrounded by a sister in a hot dog costume and another in a bacon costume. Chi O is talking in funny voices with each other without even realizing. Chi O is thirty-minute parties with a single Motown song on repeat. Chi O is eating at The Mix at the beginning and end of each semester. Chi O is yelling out the car window when you see your sister walking to class without a care in the world of who is listening.

Chi O is a reason to be grateful. Chi O is strong, smart and everlasting. Chi O is my sisters, my peers, my closest friends, my roommates, and myself. Chi O could be you!