Here at Southwestern recruitment is delayed until the spring semester. I personally came into school knowing I wanted to go Greek and thought the wait was agonizing, but in the end it actually benefited me to wait until spring to go through recruitment. Obviously Greek life is a topic that people have many different opinions on but to me, whether you end up joining a Greek organization or not, recruitment is such a great experience and so worth every second of it!
1. You meet so many new friends.
Whether you end up joining an organization or not you genuinely get to know people through conversations that you may have never had. Let's face it, everyone you talk to this week is not going to share your same interests and meeting people with diverse views is easier this week than most other weeks of the school year. It broadens your horizons and creates a more liberal arts atmosphere here at Southwestern. In addition, if you do end up joining an organization, you've spent time making friends in other Greek organizations fostering a more united Greek community.
2. Recruitment is a confidence builder.
Believe me, it seems so stressful during the actual week of, whether you're going through for the first time or you're in an organization recruiting, the whole experience is a whirlwind of spending a lot of time with the same people, but going through recruitment instills confidence in yourself. After recruitment I felt more grounded in what I believed in having talked to others about it; recruitment is partially how I decided my major. While you may feel small, awkward, or shy during the parties, after the week is over looking back you'll realize you can now start a conversation with anyone no matter where you are or how many times you've met before!
3. Finding your "home" is so much fun!
In the same way that you gain confidence from recruitment, the parties help you to find where you belong, which may be outside of a Greek organization. It always works out that you end up where you belong and fit in most. This is my favorite part of recruitment, seeing every girl finding where she belongs and in a way finding out more about herself. College is a time to grow and become who you want to be, and recruitment fosters an environment that aids this. There is a place for everyone, which is such a cool experience.
4. You learn more about your friends.
Since you and your suite mates, friend group, etc. are feeling the pressure of picking an organization to affiliate with or choosing to be an independent, it brings you all closer and helps to understand each other much more. While not many friend groups end up all together in one place, I believe every set of friends forms a stronger bond through this process.
5. You get to share a special time with countless other women.
It seems that something is always mounting between women to tear them down or tear them apart. Going through recruitment is the opposite, and despite not knowing every woman in the room, recruitment facilitates the opportunity to share a special time with other women and draws everyone together, if only for a few moments, and makes a very special experience for women to have shared together.
6. You get an amazing group of sisters!
Whether they're sorority sisters or your friends you went through recruitment with, recruitment means you get to find your own amazing group of women that fits you best as your new sisters. For some, this means being independent and for others this means joining a Greek organization. Each woman thinks their organization is the most amazing, and in each of their own ways they are! Recruitment is such a rewarding experience, though, and you find sisters who are all in their own way amazing and diverse; this is the nice thing about Southwestern.
While Greek life at Southwestern is different from traditional Greek life, recruitment is it's own special experience. Deciding to sign up is always a great way to benefit yourself whether you decide to go Greek or not! Don't sit on the fence about it: Make the choice to go through recruitment. You definitely won't regret it at Southwestern, and you'll learn more about yourself, your friends, and your peers and experience one of the most rewarding experiences. Sign up today:
