To the girl who just joined a sorority,
Congratulations and welcome to one of the best chapters of your life. Whether or not you become a part of my sisterhood, I am so happy that you found your forever home.
I was in your shoes once; I was hesitant about going through recruitment because of how stressful and nerve-wracking the whole process is, and I almost avoided recruitment entirely. I was in your shoes once; I spent hours selecting the perfect outfits to wear on each day of recruitment. I was in your shoes once; I opened my bid card and my life changed forever. Whether or not you have come to realize how much your life will change since opening your bid card, you will.
If you're as happy with your bid as I was, I'm happy for you. If you were disappointed by the sorority listed on your bid card, I'm sorry you feel that way, but please don't be disappointed. You might feel as though someone had made a mistake, but they didn't. You've heard it a million times before and I'm going to say it again: trust the system. The house you got a bid from invited you to join their sisterhood for a reason; they liked you so much that they believed you would be a perfect addition to their house. Sure, it might not be your top house, but the experience is what you make it. Once accepting their bid, enter this new chapter of your life with an open mind; forget about the house you thought you loved and fall in love with the house that loved you. Everything happens for a reason, and you might feel heartbroken at first, but give it a chance.
Joining a sorority is a new experience, an experience so different that you have no idea what to expect. You're going to meet over 100 people you know nothing about, you're going to learn the values and foundation of your sorority, and you're going to learn what it's like to be a part of a sisterhood that loves you. It will be a lot to wrap your head around at first, but soon it will be of second nature to you, and it will be an experience that you eventually won't be able to imagine your life without. As you begin to write this new chapter of your life, I have one piece of advice for you: take it all in and enjoy every moment. College passes by us so fast and in four years, you will have no idea where the time went. Before you know it, you will be wearing a cap and gown, walking across the stage and accepting your college diploma, but not before reminiscing about all of the incredible memories and experiences you got to partake in, as well as all of the incredible friendships you made throughout your time in college.
You're going to experience a lot of "firsts" in Greek life, and I hope you have the time of your life doing so. I hope that in four years, you look back at your college experience feeling thankful that you made the decision to go through sorority recruitment and give your house a chance--a decision that was once small, but turned into something bigger than yourself.
As you embark on this new adventure, I have one thing left to say: Welcome to Greek life.
Sincerely,
A woman in Greek life who was once in your shoes