Loving On Our Seniors
Writer: Yasamin K. / Editors: Ariana W. and Bella B. / Photos: Chapter Provided
Traditions are meaningful. The sisters of Pi Beta Phi (Pi Phi) display their appreciation and love to their graduating seniors, through ‘Senior Love Bug’ every year, the week of Valentine’s Day. This tradition allows the newest member class to make baskets for graduating seasons they are paired up with. New members in the chapter and graduating seniors are randomly paired together in order to foster new relationships. This basket is almost like a traditional big/little basket, to show seniors some love during their graduating semester. The baskets are placed all over the house on Valentine’s Day for seniors to search and find. The gift baskets are filled with the senior sister’s favorite snacks, Pi Phi merchandise, and small but sentimental mementos to show them some extra love on Valentine’s Day.
Alyssa G., Director of Lifelong Membership, speaks on just how meaningful this tradition is to her chapter. “All the seniors always get really excited about this event, and look forward to feeling like they are a ‘little’ again.”
This event allows a new member to get to know someone older in their chapter, and create a connection they may have not made without the rush of Senior Love Bug. “It was so cool to be able to connect with an older chapter member, and be able to get to know someone better through this,” said Alyssa. Unlikely connections like these can be the best ones. Sometimes a sentimental sisterhood event like this is exactly the push younger members need to feel comfortable and confident with older members. After all, it would be hard not to know someone after creating a gift basket for them.
Sara, one of the soon-to-be graduated seniors, shared her experience with the tradition. She says “I felt so loved by my chapter through Senior LoveBug. Two new members, Harley and Sloane, decorated cute baskets for me with all of my favorite snacks, and accessories that fit my personality. The best part was the sweet notes they wrote me, I had no idea that I had such an impact on them. This made me feel so loved outside of my direct friend group.”
Harley and Sloane were excited to share their perspective of Love Bug as new members. They talked about forming this new friendship with Sara. “After getting big/little baskets and being used to receiving the gifts, it was so fun to give back to the seniors who do so much for the chapter. I think this really helps the new members and the seniors get closer.”
Another Senior, Katy K. says “Senior Lovebug is a great way to remind the seniors how much they mean to the chapter. It was so sweet receiving letters and goodies from the new members and created a stronger connection between seniors and the new MC.” Although every Panhellenic chapter may be different in its sisterhood traditions, Pi Phi especially find ways to show each other how much they value every member as a community.