I was elected as sweetheart of the Zeta Theta-B chapter of Sigma Chi in June of 2019. Before I was sweetheart, I had already been dating my boyfriend, who was a brother, for a couple years at that point. My chapter likes to typically pick a girl that has been dating a brother for some time, almost like a lavalier too. A lot of people have asked me what I “did” to be elected, and although some chapters hold competitions for sweetheart, my chapter just picks someone that has a genuine love for the fraternity and the brothers. Even before I was sweetheart, the brothers were some of my closest friends, many of which our friendship began before they were brothers. I admired their hard work ethic and helped them in many of their volunteering and philanthropy events, not because I wanted to be sweetheart, but because I genuinely appreciated them.

I truly believe that getting close with this chapter changed my life for the better, even before being elected as sweetheart. The saying “surround yourself with people who can make you grow” definitely applies to myself. Seeing their amazing attitude and determination inspired me to similarly push myself to be the best. They have always had my back and I know with confidence they always will. Being that I am now a senior and have seen many new people join the fraternity and many graduate, the same happens with all the brothers. Through their years as active brothers I have had the opportunity to watch them grow in all aspects of their life. They walk out the doors with such confidence and pride in both themselves and their community. My favorite thing has been forming this close relationship with all the brothers and watching them turn into some of the best men I have had the chance to meet. I will continue to be astonished by everything they have accomplished and am so proud to call myself their sweetheart.

This fraternity means the world to me. Those men have pushed me to be the person I am today, and I am so grateful to have grown beside them. They never fail to put a smile on my face, and they make me so proud to represent them. Their character is like no other and it truly reflects in the house and the way they hold themselves. The brothers are some of the most intelligent and compassionate men I have met, and their drive inspires myself and many others to similarly better themselves every day. I feel so lucky to have had an opportunity like this and am so grateful for all the relationships I have created.

There are no requirements that come with the sweetheart title. Everything that I have done for them or with them has been simply because I want to repay the favor for all they have done for me, no different than any other friendship. One of my favorite events to help out with is the haunted house they do every year. They turn their fraternity house into a complete haunted house for families in their neighborhood and friends to enjoy as a philanthropy event. The brothers become characters in the haunted house and myself and a couple other girlfriends have lots of fun putting on all the special effects makeup. I also have had the chance to be a character in the haunted house along with a couple girlfriends as creepy dolls. Every aspect of the event is fun from making treats to sell at a bake sale, to setting up the house and putting the makeup on, to being a character in the house, and even deconstructing the house. This is by far the event I will miss the most.

It has truly been an experience of a lifetime to be a sweetheart for such an outstanding chapter. I feel so lucky to have been surrounded by remarkable gentlemen and make some great friendships. There are countless things I have gotten to do and be a part of during my time all of which are completely unforgettable. Now being a past sweetheart, I look back and still feel an overwhelming amount of pride for the brothers watching them continuously tackle every goal they set for themselves. My advice to any sweethearts out there is to take time and smell the (white) roses, your time goes by way too quickly!