If you had asked me if I would consider joining a sorority before I left for college, my answer would have been ‘probably not’ or 'hell no'. I never saw myself as the type of person who would join a sorority, mostly because of all the things I came to believe through the media, and all the college-based movies I’d watched. I didn’t think I was the kind of person that would fit in there, but as I soon learned, I would change a lot over the first two semesters at college, and eventually feel most at home during the recruitment events for a sorority on campus.

As recruitment week passed, I found myself incredibly excited on bid day, waiting to find out whether or not I was going to finally receive the call that I would be one step closer to finally feeling like I belonged somewhere. If it weren’t exciting enough, Bid Day was the day after my birthday, which makes the late present that much more amazing.

I don’t think I was ever as nervous as I was when I was waiting to hear from someone to actually receive my bid. Let me take you through the excruciating process of waiting.

During recruitment week

The First Social Event: Before

When I started getting ready for the first recruitment event of the season, I was a bundle of nerves. My mouth felt like it was filled with cotton balls, and my eyes felt like they were about to start pouring waterfalls down my face.

During & After:

As soon as I arrived, everything seemed to fall in place. I had expected to feel so awkward, and out of place, but instead I found myself falling into conversations with just about everyone. When I left that night, I felt a greater sense of belonging, like I was finally on my way home.

As I attended more event during the next two weeks, I felt more and more at ease in the company of my potential new family. After our last event of recruitment week, I was more than 100% positive I was going to accept my bid if it came that Sunday.

Bid Day

Waking up

I woke up two hours before my alarm, and it took me a few minutes to realize what day it was. I then proceeded to jump out of bed and grab my phone.

Waiting patiently by my phone

I then sat by my phone for three and a half hours, trying to entertain myself until my phone lit up.

Screaming excitedly when it finally rang

I got so excited I almost launched my phone across the room. Thank goodness for double protection cases.

Answering the phone and not being able to form words

"...I'd like to offer you a bid!" *Me squealing* "Really?!" "Yes really!" *squealing more intensely* "Really?!" "Yes really!"

Hanging up the phone and spending the next twenty minutes dancing and jumping up and down

I continued to squeal and dance around my boyfriend's room with our dog, totally incapable of containing the feelings that were bursting in my brain.

My boyfriend telling me to calm down

He was still sleeping when I got the phone call. I don't regret waking him up to share the happiness.

And when I couldn't calm down

It took me about an hour, but I was somewhat able to contain myself and settle down to watch a movie and do some homework.

BECAUSE IT WAS THE BEST NEWS OF MY LIFE

I was so incredibly excited. And I can't wait to continue the wonderful journey to becoming a sister of Phi Mu!