From these 15 chapters, 65 members were selected to be Panhellenic Counselors (also known as Pi Chi’s) during recruitment. For those of you who don’t know, a Pi Chi disaffiliates from their chapter to help the women going through recruitment find their home. Being selected to be a Pi Chi is an honor on Mizzou’s campus, and I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to be one.
The week before recruitment, we were trained under Greek Life staff on how to help facilitate recruitment and lead a group of 80+ women through the week of recruitment. During this time, we learned so much about the Greek community and each other. Work week really opened my eyes to how amazing each chapter on Mizzou’s campus is and how empowering the other Pi Chi’s are. We started off the week as strangers from different chapters, to ending it as close friends with our own sisterhood.
As recruitment week, started my fellow Pi Chi’s and I prepared for what was to come for the week. Having to line up over 80 girls in front of the chapter houses in less than 10 minutes, deal with the absurd heat wave, burning off 5,000 calories from sweat and then eating 10,000 calories in the dining halls, yelling “walk with a purpose” and, “use the crosswalk” about 500 times a day, having the best group of women to lead through the recruitment process (Group 13 #chill), getting snacks in each of the chapter houses, getting to watch all the PNMs run towards their new chapter on the quad, and making the best memories with the best group of girls.
My biggest struggle of the week was not only hearing bad things about my chapter, but also hearing bad things about any of the chapters. As a Pi Chi, I represented the Greek community as a whole and now have a dear friend in each chapter. I don’t see the chapters based on the stereotypes that have been unfairly stamped on them; I view them through the other Pi Chi’s and how strong, intelligent and unique they all are. All of the chapters share common goals of philanthropy, sisterhood and scholarship, and all have great things to offer on Mizzou’s campus. After this week, I have gained another view of recruitment. It got hard at times, but I had a strong support system to help along the way.
Being a Pi Chi is and always will be one of my best memories in college. I can’t begin to explain the experience I had with the 64 other women and the bond that we now share. I made friendships this week that will last a lifetime, and it’s crazy to think most of us first met two weeks ago. I shared a lot of laughter and tears (mainly me just crying about anything) this week with these women, and I wouldn't change a second of it for the world. I would like to thank Claudia Rudelic, also known as the leader of the Pi Chi’s, for choosing me to have this opportunity. And I would like to thank her for picking the other 64 women, because all of us are unique yet together complete.
If you get the opportunity to become a Pi Chi, take it! From the outside looking in, you can’t understand it, and from the inside looking out, you can’t explain it. It's a great experience you won't regret taking part of; and trust me, it goes by way too fast.
This article is dedicated to the Pi Chi’s of 2014: you guys are awesome.
