Turn That Frown Upside Down

"Ohhhh you make me smileeeeeeeeee." Name that song.


Through out college I have had some absolute awful days. Whether it was about grades, a breakup, even just something a friend said, there have been a few people who have kept me sane through those times. One of those people is my big sister (from my sorority), Haley. Never before have I met someone as bubbly and kind as she is. Not only is she nice to me because I'm her little, she's always the same to everyone. For so many reasons I picked Haley to be my big, and I'm so so thankful that she accepted me as her little.

My first memory of Haley was when I was going through sorority recruitment. What happens at my school, is that you must attend all 8 sororities the first night of recruitment. That means 20 minute parties at each "house". My mother is a lifelong sister of AEPhi (Alpha Epsilon Phi), so I talked to her before recruitment and decided I was not going to make my decision based off of that. However, the first person I met in AEPhi was Haley. And I was sold. I came back every night, waved at her and was reminded how happy she was in AEPhi. Later I found out that she's just always happy- which makes everyone else happy.

It's kind of like a contagious disease. Probably not the cutest way to describe it. But I was even talking to my little sister Tamra (also from my sorority), and she told me that whenever she was with friends on campus and spotted Haley, she would always have the biggest grin. Tamra's friends commented about it as well saying, "Is she always so happy? Where can I get some of what she's having?" I loved hearing that story because it's 100 percent accurate. Every time I see Haley we get huge eyes and a huge smile (all the teeth) and embrace. I've been so so lucky, and I could never tell her enough how much she helps me through my lows. Plus, her mom is a riot (and if you're reading this Ivy, you're the "cool" mom).


I suppose I should probably mention my little one now, Tamra. She started reading my blog and was frustrated she wasn't in it. Here's to you, freak. So Tamra and I are actually the same person. We look alike (as do Haley and I), we speak with similar phrasing, we hate all the same things, and we act the same. It's truly a blessing to be so close to both my big and my little. Tamra is able to relate to me so well, all the time. We even have a snapchat streak of over 90 days. That's three months of snapchatting every day. Sorry not sorry. I cannot imagine taking a better, more suitable little for me. Can't wait for 3 more awkward years of us and our shenanigans (until I graduate and become a real person).

**sidenote: I just realized I can put pictures on here!!! So you can see that my friends are real. Solid.

Tamra, Haley, me

 

Well now I feel like I should mention Jenny (my grandbig) and Niss (first name Nicole, my great grandbig) because they are amazing too! Both of these girls help me out in the realm of learning how to "do" Boston. Niss works for a cool company, Tablelist, that helps people book tables at bars and clubs. She's going to help me plan my 21st birthday! She is a conosseiur of night life, and I'm glad to have her present because she is so fun and lovable. Jenny was the president when I joined, so I was of course extremely in awe of her. She's a fashionable leader who is also smiley and nice all the time. She's also super smart and just well-rounded in general.
 Wow, I got so lucky with my "Phamily".

Tamra, Haley, me, Jenny, Nicole

Besides my sorority sisters, who have been there for me from the beginning, I also have other individual friends and a group of friends that have highly impacted me, and are worth talking about.


First I'll mention the group of friends. Since the beginning of freshman year I assumed that I was going to find a group of people that could compare to my close-knit group of friends at home. But until April of my sophomore year, I didn't. It plagued me forever. I felt like a misfit. Of course I had tons of friends, but no one really considered me part of their group. When co-op started, I became friends with one of the guys who was also co-oping at my company, Matt. We ended up getting lunch together everyday and sharing funny vines or tweets. And.....now we're best friends. He is one of the best quasi-therapists ever. He also has impeccable grammar. But I digress. In April he introduced me to his friend group, and the rest is history. I love love love the girls because they so quickly accepted me as their friend, and now we're really close. We go shopping, we see movies, and we eat. A lot. And of course the guys are great too. Super fun, super fresh. I don't even know what that means but it works. They also understand all of my amyisms and use them as well. Which is fantastic.

(Pictured: me, Sam, Ally - just a few of the girls)

(Matt and I)

Individuals that have really helped me out during my two years tend to be males..I don't know why but it probably has to do with the fact that they're less dramatic. I wanted to leave the drama in high school, so I guess I've shied away from girls a little. An example is my friend Marc who was the first person I met and chatted with at orientation. We have been friends ever since. Every once in a while he will text me and make my day. It's those sort of people that you never want to lose. This summer we have gotten closer and see each other for dinner occasionally. He is one of my best friends, and always has stellar advice.

Kevin is another best friend that I've had since the way beginning of my time at Northeastern. Whenever we hang out, we are always laughing. Also he is equal with me in our knowledge of Spongebob. And that, my friends, is exceptional.



Isaac and I

 

Marc and I

The last guy, Isaac, is also one of my best friends. I see him too often, and we have a lot of sass exchanging, but I love this kid. We met freshman year because he is in AEPi, and I'm in AEPhi. Both Jewish organizations (mostly). We do events together like Pi a Phi where people pay money to our philanthropies to throw pies at us. Last year Isaac and I both participated. We also went on Birthright together. I'm shocked the tourguide put up with us for 10 days. He likes to refer to me as a bro because we pretty much act like siblings, and I'm better at video games than him. He would never admit it though hehe. I love how Isaac is always there for me, and he truly cares. Yeah, he's silly, but he does have a giant heart.


Kevin and I



I thought of a girl!

Hayley and I

Hayley is another great friend that makes me laugh with her faces and ridiculous adventures. She even let me stay with her at her home in Toronto last summer. I love this girl for always keeping me entertained. Lots of Haley/Hayleys in my life.


I feel bad if I left anyone out, but these are really the people who have been there either the whole time, or have made the time I've known them feel like forever. In a good way.


I know that if I'm ever in need of a smile, I don't have to look far. I really just have to snapchat these folks. But without the convenience of snapchat, I know that just around the corner are some of the people that have made my heart full and happy here at Northeastern. And I want to thank all of them so much for that.


If you answered the question at the beginning of this post, I hope you answered Smile by Uncle Kracker. Pat yourself on the back if you got it right. Stop reading if you didn't.


peace.love.meep

-amyjoy

P.S. The blank space bothers me too, but after a ton of time trying to figure out how to format pictures on this, I'm giving up. Just like so many other things in my life: soccer, gymnastics, my diet.