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I found this...so cute <3

Pi Phi Love

I realize that I ramble on and on about my sorority, but it is SO amazing & it's kind of hard not to. I never imagined being part of an organization that would become as close as family to me. It's the staying up all night talking, the random movie nights, the boy drama, & the study sessions. These girls aren't just my friends, they really are family. I can honestly say that I made the most important and life altering choice when I pledged Pi Phi. I have told people numerous times that the best decision I ever made was pledging Pi Beta Phi. I stand by that statement. These girls aren't fake. They aren't the type who talk behind my back or want to see me fall. They are girls that want the best for me, that encourage me, support me, and enjoy my company. Living in the house has been another decision that I am patting myself on the back for. I LOVE having daily girl's nights, eating lunch with my sisters, and getting ready for parties together. I love living with these girls. I cannot imagine living with anyone but my sisters. It's like a constant reminder of how lucky I am for the friends & family I have.

People often speak badly upon sororities. These people do not grasp the concept of sororities. They don't understand us or our bond. Pi Phi was the first sorority & originated in 1867. The rituals we do and the secrets we keep have been kept for over a hundred years. I am so proud to be part of an organization that is so strong and focused on supporting & empowering women. It's comforting to know that I have sisters all over the country!!

These girls will be there for me through anything. No matter what is going on, I know that I always have someone to count on. Pi Phi is an organization based on sincere friendship, community service, integrity, honor & respect, intellectual & personal development, and lifelong commitment. It is an organization that pushes me to be a better woman and enables me to meet the most amazing women at the U while doing so.

Pi Phi is the biggest part of my college life. These girls have changed my life. They are the girls who will be at my wedding, who I talk to when life is going rough, and who understand my actions-whether they are admirable or not. It's amazing to have such a support system.

I wish I could explain how much I adore the women in my sorority. I have never gotten in a huge fight with a Pi Phi. I have never felt intimidated, sad, or upset because of something one of my sisters has done. This is because we are all here for the same reasons- to bond as sisters, to protect the heritage of Pi Beta Phi, to graduate college, & to live life to its fullest. We have been through so much together--why would we fight? The future is bright for Utah Alpha Pi Phis. We are bonded together forever. What an amazing thought! My pledge class contains the girls who I am closest to in life. PC08 is more then family to me, a word does not even exist that explains my love for them. ((Remember the Christmas party, our sleepover before initiation, I-week, initiation, beta ski trip, pledge meetings, movie nights, date night, jerk boyfriends and bee-yatches that betrayed us, beta formal, & our first abduction--those memories brought us close, made us family. PC08 I Love You!))

If you have the opportunity to rush, do it. I have nothing bad to say about my house. My little girl, when I have one, will be a Pi Phi for sure. I can't wait to continue the legacy of a Pi Phi angel. College without Pi Phi would be like life without love. And who would ever want to go through life like that?

First Impressions

I find it funny that I can meet someone and in the first minute or so decide if I like them or not. I find it even funnier when that first impression is so far off, it's ridiculous. It seems I'm not too good at the whole first impression thing. Most of my best friends were girls who I never imagined getting along with. Girls who I felt a "bad vibe" from. Then came the part where we bonded & found something so in common it's like the stars knew we would be friends from the start.

Isn't it ironic that the people who are most like you are the ones you don't get along with? (maybe it's just me) My best friend in high school was Jessica. Not only were we always competing for the same things (homecoming queen, basketball, student government, deca) but she seemed to be at every hangout and party I was. She had aspirations and goals parallel to my own. Yet, we just plain did not like each other. I can't even believe some of the things we did and said to each other! I don't know why we hated each other throughout the first year of high school. Perhaps it was competitive spirit in each of us or maybe the jealousy got the best of us. Whatever it was, I'm glad we got over that first impression. And to tell you the truth, I don't remember the exact moment when we stopped hating and embraced the fact that we were meant to be best friends. I'm glad we did. Jessica came to be the biggest influence of my high school years. We encouraged each other to push harder, to do better. And although we were competing for the same things, there were no bad feelings when one or the other won. It was sheer happiness. Jessica is the girl that knows me without asking what I'm thinking. We are so alike she knows my train of thought in any given situation. And even though we are miles apart at school, I still consider her one of my best friends. She will be the girl at my wedding, the shoulder I lean on in hard times, and the girl I visit if I want to have a REALLY good time. See what I would have missed out on if I would have believed that first impression?

Similar scenarios play out for many of the other important people in my life, including Molly. I just DID NOT like that girl when I met her. Fast forward a pledgeship and initiation and she became my dearest friend at the U.

First impressions. They say the first 20 seconds is all it takes for the average person to form an opinion about another. TWENTY SECONDS. That gives us almost no time at all! It's sad to know that we can lose the opportunity to get to know so many people because of the first twenty seconds of an encounter. How is someone supposed to know all 20 years of me in 20 seconds? That's like a year a second. And I would be extremely weird if I introduced myself, "Hi, I'm Jill! I like to have lots of fun! I'm a republican, feminist, Pi Beta Phi, girlfriend, sister, and Ute fan. I love to play games, hang out with friends, ride horses, go to the row, and watch movies. Would we be good friends?" Ew. so unrealistic.

Then there are those people who you really like from the start then you hang out with them and your like...uhh...wrong choice.

Everyone is different, which makes this whole first impression thing totally ridiculous. Not one person is the same in the world. Not one. How can we identify ourselves in 20 seconds? Especially in a social environment? But, I guess it's just a fact of life-the whole 20 second rule.

As I think about this whole first impressions dealio, I can't help but to wonder what kinds of people I have not given the chance they deserve. There could be another Jessica right under my nose, highly unlikely-she is one of a kind :)

But, you get the point.

What I need to learn is to GET TO KNOW PEOPLE before I just brush them off. As I have learned in these situations, first impressions are far, far off. Although it will be hard to change my ways, I don't want to miss out on amazing people! And now I feel kinda guilty about all the people I have bad thoughts of who I knew for I don't know a couple hours...maybe not even that long.

That's the life lesson I'm just beginning to learn-and I don't know what too me so long. I read this quote yesterday, "Adjust your belief of first impressions- you should know by know they're meaningless"

Turning 20

So...here's the thing...my bday is in a couple days. Instead of being totally siked, I'm kind of dreading the whole thing. When I was growing up, I would sit and just imagine what I would look like when I was in my 20's. Here I am, days away from that birthday. 20. To the general population, this number seems low, young, and exciting. But, it's tough to persuade someone who cried on their 18th birthday. Yup, that was me. The girl who cried when she turned into a "legal adult" I just always wanted to be 17 forever. I was old enough to have my own opinions yet young enough to be able to make mistakes and get away with it, for the most part at least. (There's this saying- old enough to know better but young enough not to care- I always associated that with the age of 17...and it was the greatest phrase to live by ever)

Twenty just seems so old. In the next ten years, I will get married and find a career. It just seems like my life flew by. I want to hold onto my youth so badly but I also know I have to grow up.

I guess the reason I'm dreading it all is that I'm a little scared. I'm scared of the choices I will have to make, of the responsibilities I will have. I hope I do it all right.

I'm excited to see what happens in the next ten years, but I know they are probably the most important years of my life. I mean, during this time I will make the most important decisions of my life.

On a happier note...

Pi Phi is amazing. I LOVE living in the house. It's been such an amazing experience being surrounded by all my sisters all the time. I am defiantly living in next year! I have had some of the most random/funny conversations with those girls!

My best friends are amazingggg! Brie and Molly have been so good through everything! It's amazing to have friends that are there for me through thick and thin. Even better, I laugh so hard every time they are around. And, even when days go by when we don't really hang out, it's like we never missed a beat. Damn. I dunno what I would do without those girls. I really love them for all they have done for me. They have helped me through the good, the bad, and the ugly. I can't wait to see what we go through in years to come. And being bonded through sisterhood makes our connection even stronger. I just know these girls will be in my life for a long time and I feel soooo lucky for that!

I got my little sister in the house! Her name is Abby && she is so adorable!

So, as you can see, life is going good! I recently got my ski pass also! Canyons here I come! Yayyy! I can't wait for ski season!

School is going good. I am struggling in math (whats new) but other then that I am doing very well! Next semester I really have to buckle down, I'm taking 18 credits. Since I'm double majoring in accounting and marketing I need to take on a lot of school to graduate in time. So, that is going to be my main focus. School. Then again, after school the real world starts. You know, the whole job and bills and real life. ugh

This whole talk about growing up is depressing. I just wanna stay 17 forever. Then again, I guess the adventures, the mistakes, and the lessons are worth it in the end. I get to live my life with the people I love most. I get to live. learn. love. Isn't that what life is all about anyways?