Recruitment is over. Those of us on the recruiting side have finally been able to catch up on sleep and eat normal food. To the new members, we have one word for you: beware. You have no idea what is in store for you this time next year.
To start off the week, each member comes in excited to see their sisters for the first time all summer. We've spent all summer sleeping and are ready to get back on a normal schedule.
They refer to training week as "House Party." You quickly realize that this title is very, very deceiving. You spend hours going over chants, songs, etc. and it in no way resembles a party.
The only thing keeping you going through the early hours and late nights is the excitement of seeing all of your old friends again at night, however; by the time you are done with training, you are so mentally exhausted that you choose to sleep instead.
Finally, recruitment starts. You arrive at the house when it is still dark outside. Everyone is on edge from lack of sleep, eating pizza every night, and from the nerves that have began for first round.
You get ready in the crowded bathrooms talking about how tired you are. Everybody changes into their cute new letter shirts and gets ready to see the first round of 80 freshmen/sophomores that are coming into your house for the first time ever.
As the first day comes to a close, you stay behind to help clean and get ready for the next day of doing the same thing. You are finally given the all clear to leave, so make the long treck back to your car in the dark.
A short six hours later you arrive at the house once again. You dread the volume that 100-plus girls can make while talking. Today and tomorrow are the days that you will be cheering as loud as possible. This kills your voice and you begin to sound like a man after a few short hours.
Toward the end of the week you are mentally and physically weak. People are beginning to get sick due to the exhaustion. You are all cranky and have cried a few times. No one has been in the daylight in a week. Today is the last day and it can't end quickly enough.
The day has ended. Everyone is in a happier mood than you expected. Through all of the sleep deprivation, there is a sliver of excitement. You are beginning to picture your rush crush running into your arms on bid day. Maybe this week wasn't so bad after all.
Bid day has finally arrived. Everyone dresses in their wild outfits and puts face paint on each other. The past week you have been complaining about is no longer relevant. All that matters is that in an hour, your new sisters will be running across the parking lot screaming from excitement. You see your bid day buddy running with a huge smile on her face. In that moment, instead of wanting to warn her of next year's house party, you want to tell her how heart warming it is to see how excited people are to wear your letters. Nothing from last week matters anymore. All that matters is that you have a group of beautiful, perfect, new sisters and it was worth it all.
Below is the video of our fabulous bid day.
