Big Brothers and Big Sisters

One of the most proudest and happiest moments, on an individual level at least, for active brothers/sisters in a fraternity or sorority is receiving their little brothers/sisters.  While new members are currently pledging, somewhere in the middle of their pledge process, they will be given a big brother/sister.  The big is there to help you along the hardships of the pledge process and to support you in anything in general.  Your big is your ally, your big is there to lean on, and your big will always be there for you.  No fraternity or sorority will always assign their bigs and littles the same way.  One way includes letting the new members that are pledging to decide who they want.  Another way is that the new member does not get a say at all.  Then another process includes having the new members make a list of their top 3 or 5 and then the active brothers/sisters match up from there.  The active members can choose to pair up by similarities, who they think will mesh the best, or pair up total opposites so that forces them to get to know each other and build a bond.  Fraternities and sororities also tend to have the big/little ceremony differently also.  Fraternities might have a ritual and then hang out afterwards and just with each other and the other new bigs and littles.  Sororities also might have a ritual, but they also tend to have a more extravagant big/little "reveal."  For example, some sorority women that is going to receive a little will hide in a box and pop out at the appropriate time.  Then once the previous little gets to have a little the following semester or following year, the previous big is now a big and a grand big.  This is cool because there could potentially be a long bloodline dating as far back as the founding father and founding sister.  Regardless of how big brothers and big sisters are chosen, the bond will be there for a lifetime.  They will be the first one to wish you a happy birthday, they can be attached by the hip whenever they are out, they are the closest ones in a fraternity/sorority, they can possibly be your best man or maid of honor at your wedding.  A bond like a big and a little is stronger than no other.