The week of recruitment that is known as rush week to many colleges in the United States is a very exciting time for sorority members and potential new members. This week alone can change their lives forever because they could come into greek life as an only child, but once they choose the house that fits them they could now be surrounded by hundreds of sisters. The journey that I have been on with my sorority sisters has truly been amazing. It is different now that I have been in a sorority for 2 years and now reflecting back to my rushing days is quite the experience. Now that I have found my home I hope this heartfelt advice will help other women find their home too.
1. Above everything be yourself.
All of the women in the sororities just want to get to know you to see if you would fit in with their chapter. They do not want you to pretend to be something you are not because these women that you are talking to could potentially be your sisters for the rest of your life. Some of the women that you could talk to through recruitment could even be in your wedding someday.
2. Try to give Sorority life a chance
You have nothing to lose, but so much to gain by going through recruitment. Even if you do not end up choosing a chapter, you will have made so many friends going through rush and will have learned so much. Sorority life is not the typical way that you see in movies. Remember that we are human beings just like yourself.
3. We are just as nervous as you
You are not the only one who is nervous, but EVERYONE is nervous going through recruitment. Going through recruitment you are worrying from what to say to literally planning your conversations out. Being on the other side of recruitment you need to know that we are trying to figure out what to talk about with you just as much as your trying to figure out what to say to us.
4. Your Recruitment counselors are there to help you find your home
Those women disaffiliated themselves from their chapter so that you may find your home just like they found theirs. They are your guide through recruitment so use them! If you are about to have a breakdown they will give you advice, if you need deodorant they will have it right with them, and if you know your breath needs a little spray of mint they will have it! However, please do not talk trash about any sororities because you could really offend your recruitment counselor if she is a member of the chapter you are talking about.
5. Do not be afraid to be honest
It is okay to tell us a confession, a worry, or something you may just not like about recruitment. We do not expect everything to be daisies and roses. We expect you to be emotionally drained, be stressed, and have anxiety. It is refreshing when you tell us you are having a bad day because we would love to listen and maybe shed a ray of light your way. Just like you, we are human beings also and all we ask if for you to be respectful.
6. Be humble and be respectful throughout your entire journey
Although we want you just as much as you want us you need to remember that we are all equal. Your goal is to become what everyone else in each chapter is and that is a sorority woman. Remember you are not better than anyone nor are we better than you. We are all on the same playing field.
7. Relax everything is going to happen the way it is meant to be
It is extremely easy to become overwhelmed and stressed during recruitment, but try to remember to remember to take a breather. You may get dropped from a sorority that you really want, but remember everything will fall as they may and you will find your home.
8. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
I love when girls would ask me questions while they were going through recruitment. It shows me they truly want to get to know specific parts of my chapter and they just want to learn. However, remember that just like you may not know all of the answers to our questions that does not mean I know everything each woman going through recruitment is going to ask me.
9. Think about where you will want to be when the decorations are taken down
Who can you see yourself eating pizza and having Krispy Kreme in the same night? Who do you picture yourself being able to be a complete mess in front of? At the end of the day who are you most comfortable with? Recruitment may be beautiful and fun, but with all of the decorations down what really there is are true, genuine, friendships. Pick the chapter that you think that some of those women could be in your wedding.
10. You are good enough
If you have a zit on your face you have a zit on your face. If have braces you have braces. You should not feel like you have to change yourself for recruitment nor do you need to. Own your shortness, own your insecurities, own your weight, own your weaknesses, because those attributes are what make you, you.
