Missouri Alpha Alex Tegeler swore up and down she wasn’t going to be a Pi Phi. Her two older sisters had both become Pi Phis while attending the University of Missouri and joining the same house seemed too predictable. But after just one day of recruitment, Alex fell in love with the women. “I called my sisters in tears and said, ‘I don’t want to be anything but a Pi Phi.’”

Now, as a sophomore, Alex is gearing up for her first recruitment as an initiated member. She also gets to live in the chapter house alongside her pledge sisters. The Missouri Alpha Chapter has more than 200 members, but only 72 live in the chapter house. Room assignments are determined by a points system and since Alex’s name was toward the top of the list, thanks to her high participation in chapter events, she chose to live on “third floor,” as the women call it. She brought bedding and decorations from home, including lamps and canvases to make the space feel cozier.

“It’s fun to put your own personal style on your room,” Alex said. And she isn’t the only Missouri Alpha who feels that way. During move in day, Alex could tell which room belonged to which sister thanks to the decorations. “That’s why I like Pi Phi,” Alex said. “My room looks completely different from my sister’s room across the hall because we’re all so different and we have such individual personalities.”

To say Alex is excited to live with her sisters is an understatement. This summer, she had a countdown on her cell phone counting down the days until move in day. Her pledge class also communicated daily via a group text message, sharing their excitement around their upcoming reunion. “It sounds like a cliché answer, but living with my sisters is the coolest experience because what other time in your life can you live with your best friends?” Alex said. “There’s always someone to go out to eat with or hang out with at night. Living in the house makes us grow closer and I think that’s really exciting.”