Ellen Whitney

Baylor was not at all what I expected. It took longer than I anticipated to feel like I really belonged here and to find the community I was longing for. I was discouraged and wondering if I had made the wrong decision coming to Baylor. It seemed like everyone was finding “their people,” but as the semester went on the Lord starting placing the girls in my life who would later push me to be my very best and support me in everything I do.

These girls were a part of Chi Omega.

I was shown what a consistent friend and servant leader looked like. Girls older than me were showing me kindness and compassion like I had never seen before. Some advice that I heard over and over again was, “to surround yourself with the people that you want to be like as you continue to grow.” I saw the qualities I was striving towards in the women of Chi Omega.

This group has fully accepted me and shown me what it means to be fully loved. They have taught me that a midnight run to Buc-cee’s is full of more memories than studying for a test. They have proved that Christmas caroling with your best friends is the best final exams study break. It has brought me people that will take you to the hospital at 3 a.m. for kidney stones and then stay up all night with you. It has brought me the opportunity to live with and around some of the most outstanding people (shoutout 11th street!!). Chi O is full of girls that will drop everything in an instant to come alongside one another.

As a senior, looking back on my time in Chi O I can’t help but be filled with complete delight and thankfulness to where it has brought me. God has used this experience to point me closer to Him. These amazing girls challenge and push me to be the best I can be. This chapter is full of different talents and strengths that play an essential part in Chi O and has made it one of the best things of college thus far.

This community is bursting with girls filled with humility, joy, grace and selflessness. They also know how to celebrate life even in the midst of stressful times. There have been countless belly laughs, an endless amount of encouragement and persistent support like I have never known. I am consistently awestruck and blessed by the community in Chi O. I cannot wait to see how Chi O continues to shape me and the girls in this chapter. These are my people and I am forever thankful for each of them.