Placed There On Purpose 💕 - A Big/Little Testimonial

I believe that some people come into your life slowly, over time, until one day when you realize how much they mean to you. And then there are the people that walk in when you least expect it at the exact moment you needed them most, and you didn’t even know it. People you feel connect to almost instantly, like God placed them there on purpose. I walked into ADPi blind, not knowing anyone, and for me that person was my big Mimi Kelly. When I first joined ADPi, I was overwhelmed I was an out of state student almost 400 miles away from home, I was in a place of self-doubt. I kept wondering whether I was doing enough, was I going to get into law school? Whether I was capable of the things I dreamed of, and whether I truly belonged in the spaces I was stepping into. But then I got a text “Hi my name is Mimi Kelly, and I am so excited to be your pi-pal this week!”

With Mimi it was different from the very beginning. Instead of your typical coffee date, we grabbed bright blue loaded teas, and instead of a calm, normal walk through the Arboretum, we somehow ended up taking a slightly chaotic, definitely-not-the-safest trek through the woods. Looking back, that moment feels so perfectly us. Spontaneous, chaotic, but filled with love and laughter. But the best part, the part that felt different from any other date I had, was that I didn’t feel like I had to be anyone other than myself. There was no performance, no over thinking what I said, no pressure.

With you, everything felt natural. You understood my humor immediately, you shared my love for God, and you carried this beautiful belief that no matter what life throws at us, there's always a reason to smile. That was the moment I knew I needed you to be my big, I needed you to be my forever role model. But one of the moments that truly showed me who you were during was during big little reveal week. When it came time for the reveal I pulled out a white dress out of my bag to wear for the reveal and when I tried it on, it just didn't fit the way I would have felt most confident in. In a moment, that could have easily turned to panic or stress, I did the first thing that came to my mind, I called you.

The funny thing is, at the time, I actually thought you weren't my big. You had spent the entire week pranking me convincing me that it couldn't possibly be you. But without hesitation I still turned to you, not because I thought you had to help me but because I trusted you and within 10 minutes you showed up at my dorm with another white dress in hand. You didn't hesitate; you didn't even question it you just showed up. That moment meant more than then I think you will ever fully realize, because in that moment it showed me exactly the kind of person you are. The person that shows up when you need someone. And from that day forward you have continued to show up for me in every possible way.

You're the person I know I can call no matter what hour of the day or night, the person that will answer the phone to talk to me through whatever is on my mind and pick me up and give me a ride anywhere without hesitation. You carry this quiet but powerful way of putting others before yourself and it's one of the things I admire most about you, the way you care for people you love and in true ADPi fashion “living for each other” and the way you live your life with faith and kindness is something that inspires me every single day. We are similar in many ways which is why I think we make such a perfect big little duo, we share the same sense of humor, the same love for God, and the same belief that joy is something you can choose every day even when life isn't perfect or when things “just aren't fair.” Mimi Kelly, you came into my life when I needed you most, when I needed someone who could make me laugh, pray with me, support me, and remind me that I never have to face life alone. You aren't just my big, you are my Why ADPi and I can’t wait to for all the many more memories we get to make!

- Lucia Strava AC ‘25