I’ve spent the past semester looking at my friends from southern schools join their new sisters, get their letters and “throw what they know." Needless to say, the wait for spring recruitment to start was a long one. But now that it has come and gone, I figured I’d share my 2.5 weeks (give or take) of wisdom.
You’re going to be nervous. Even before the first round, your stomach is going to be filled with something a lot bigger and meaner than butterflies. Meeting hundreds of new girls is scary, and the anticipation you feel is completely normal; I guarantee you, every other girl rushing feels the same way.
You’re going to be exhausted. After the first day, I went back to my dorm and immediately passed out for a couple hours. After a long day of walking around campus, talking to multiple people in short time spans and keeping that pretty smile on your face, all you’re going to want to do is sleep. Take advantage of sleep while you still can.
You’re going to lose your voice. Almost inevitably, after the first day as well, your voice will start to sound a little scratchy, if you're lucky. If you're not, you'll sound like a teenage boy going through puberty, like I did. It’s really cute, trust me. All of that talking takes a toll on you, but in the best way possible.
You may or may not get sick. Being in a room with so many other people makes it extremely easy to catch something. That, combined with being exhausted, doesn't make for a very good pair, so make sure to be careful and stay as healthy as possible in order not to miss a moment of the wonderful craziness.
You’re going to lose sleep. Not really because of the process itself, but because of the inability to sleep due to nerves. If you’re extremely impatient like I am, the waiting will absolutely kill you. All you want to know is which organizations called you back for the next round and which one you're closer to ending up in.
You’re going to meet so many wonderful girls. Whether you wind up in their organization or not doesn't matter; they'll still be happy to see you on campus and probably remember that super embarrassing story you told them during rounds every time they run into you. Regardless of the letters you wind up wearing, the girls you meet will be happy for you if you're happy.
You’re going to be emotional. Whether it’s because you got good news or bad, you’re overtired or because of bid day (best day), there will most likely be tears at some point. This is especially true on pref day and bid day, so make sure to put on some waterproof mascara, because the emotions are running sky high. Even if you don't cry easily, the amount of adrenaline and love you're surrounded by may squeeze out a tear or few. And if you don't wind up getting a bid from your top choice or from any organization at all, just keep in mind that everything happens for a reason. The experience was meant to teach you something, and maybe this wasn't meant to happen for you just yet.
It’s going to be a long process, whether it’s spread out over a couple weekends or jam-packed into one. But if I learned anything, it’s that it was worth it. Bid day wasn't long ago at all, but I already feel so at home and loved, and I know I’m surrounded by an amazing group of girls. I truly hope everyone’s rushing process will be as stressful and exhausting as mine, because it made it that much better to wind up in where I was meant to be.
