Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time there was a loud, obnoxious, Americanized, Asian girl and her three other roommates, Kitty, Jane, and of course Anh.  One day, while randomly leaving Wellman from class, Kitty and Genie got roped in my an even louder, more obnoxious Papa named Drew Mayan with promises of no commitment and free food.  We were convinced; yup that easy!

The journey continued with almost dying, almost getting flooded, almost killing each other, and even almost on the brink of losing the wonderful kin-like friendship amongst each other, life continued.  We all grew…and we are all still great friends.

That’s what APO did for me.  It tested my limits continuously; it tested my patience both in people and with people; and it tested what I believe in day in and day out.

Not too many people have any idea who I am, yet somehow my reputation proceeds me more than who I really am anyways.  Once upon a time I was family chair, service VP, and pledge parent with my wonderful wifey, Sheena.  Along the way I definitely disappeared and when I was ready, when it was finally on my terms, I reappeared and came back to a chapter that had open arms regardless of their reservations that welcomed me back.

Truly there is some magic that exists while you are heavily involved in APO where time seems to fly by, yet you try to have all the time in the world, and somehow no matter how broke you are, you can always take on another little :).  Why?!?! Because then, it mattered.

You matter.  Truly, you really might seem like a tiny fish in a huge pond (b/c lets admit it, APO is HUGE!) but there is always at least that one person, whether its your pp, your sponsor, your adopted, your bb, your littles…another brother…there really is always that one person who does care.  Who really believes in you; and that is what keeps people around.

So the next time you aren’t really sure why you got paired up w/someone; or you think someone is saying something that’s not true; or whatever…there ALWAYS is a person who will listen.  Who will advise.  Listen.  Listen w/an open heart and an open mind (you might not like what you hear) but it stems from some experience.

Once upon a time might really be a long time ago…but w/out history there truly is no future :)

iLFS,

Genie Bean