What It Means to Me to be a Big and a Little

Written by Earicka Jones, 2025 Director of External Correspondence

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As a current Senior, it feels like it was just yesterday that I became Rosebud and was met with so much love from people I had barely even known. I transferred into USC at the start of my Junior year and I was completely out of my element. I had already taken this big leap by moving a state across the country from everything and everyone I had ever known but I just knew deep down that USC was where I needed to be. Once I felt that same feeling during one of the info sessions for the Helenes, I knew I had to give this organization my all!

I was only 1-2 weeks into my Rosebud semester and already forming connections with both members in and outside of my Rosebud class when I was told that I would be getting a “Big.” I had never experienced Big-Little pairings in other organizations I had been a part of before so the concept was new to me but I had started receiving cards with these cute notes in them and little gifts from what I considered to be this “Secret Santa.” I was so enthusiastic with this love I was receiving from someone I was sure I really didn’t even know but they knew me and showed that they cared about me as a person, their little ♥️. 

Even with the excitement of brainstorming who I thought could possibly be my Big, I was so anxiety-ridden with these thoughts that they wouldn’t like me or that we wouldn’t connect once I found out who they were. That worry went out the window as soon as I met my amazing Big!

Nyshia: The Best Big I could ask for

Nyshia and I clicked so easily, it felt like we had been friends forever. I consider myself to be a naturally reserved person but Nyshia’s spirited personality always made me feel like I belonged in both Helenes and our personal family lineage. She came to see me at a fashion show I walked (which meant so much to me), we went out together countless times, and spent nights laying on her bedroom floor together just laughing uncontrollably (just because of how funny she is). I don’t know what foresight the directors of Membership had when they paired us together but I am the better for it.

Through Nyshia, I also got to connect with Kennedy, my grand-big, who is not only from the same city as me but also attended the same high school as well around the same time (talk about coincidence). Meeting and bonding with Kennedy was special to me because my relationship with her became this piece of home I had with me everyday at USC. If I mentioned something I was missing or a memory from back home, Kenn no doubt understood and related!

I also became close with Grace, an honorary member of our family lineage (my law queen!). She became one of my favorite people to go see the new Marvel films with and geek out on the lore of it all! Even though all four of us are in completely different places now that they’ve graduated, we still talk as if nothing has changed 🥰.

Once a Little, Now a Big??

I knew that with all of the love I had been given through being Nyshia’s little, I wanted to give that same love to a little of my own: Taylor (Resident Director of Communications ofc!)

When I got paired with Taylor, I made it my mission to try to shower her with the same amount of love that Nyshia showered me with but that same fear of us not clicking crept in. Nevertheless, I pushed those negative thoughts aside and bothered her with love (duh!). I’d also like to personally thank the fact that we both got on E-board at the same time because I feel like that really gave us the opportunity to really get to know each other and become way closer than I could have ever imagined. I learned her humor and she unfortunately learned mine and I fear they blend too well together (sorry my child!). We share so many (sometimes inside) jokes with each other that I’m sure we look crazy to those around us but it doesn’t matter because we have the best time (we can’t have a joking feeling?)! I really lucked out and got the best Little around, I fear and I’m getting sad just thinking about the fact that I won’t be able to see her as much once I graduate because she’s been one of the most lovely people I’ve met during my time in Helenes. 

Couldn’t Ask for More

My personal Big-Little pairings didn’t just stop at relationships with my ‘immediate’ lineage, it also provided me the opportunity to build strong bonds with my ‘extended family’ (the lineages created from past Bigs picking up more than one Little). I’ve gotten to meet and become friends with one of the sweetest people I have ever met, Erica (my one and only Name Twin) who makes the best bread in the world and is always there for those around her. Additionally, I became closer with her Little, Mel, who is also a part of my Rosebud class (Spring 2024, WOOOHOO!). Mel never hesitates to speak her mind and seeing her be such an outstanding Rosemommy, alongside Les, to our Rosebuds these past two semesters warms my heart because they both really care about them💕! I’d definitely say that Mel, Erica, Taylor, and I being on E-board at the same time has really strengthened this part of our mini Helenes’ family. 

I say all of this to say that being both a Big and a Little in Helenes has afforded me so many lovely memories and relationships that I will cherish forever. All of these wonderful people that I have met through these two pairings have truly become my home away from home. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully express just how much each and every one of them mean to me and have helped me grow as a person within Helenes 🌹❤️.