Some of us have always dreamed about going to college and finding our new family through the Greek community. Even if it hasn’t been in your long-term plans to join Greek life and you decided to do it anyway, on a whim, finding your home is still important.
These people are going to be your new support system, the reason behind your smiles, and your best friends. It is a big decision, and one that needs to be made carefully and thoughtfully. Finding a home that is filled with people that you can consider sisters or brothers is going to be one of the most immense and weighty decisions that you’ve made thus far. These relationships don’t just last for the length of your college career, they last for life, as cheesy as that is. Take your time, you will end up exactly where you are meant to be.
During recruitment, it is important to maintain an open mind. Yes, you’ve probably heard rumors about the specific houses that you will be going through. But what are your opinions? Are you going to rely on every random word that you've heard about a particular sorority or fraternity? Really get in touch with who you are as a person and go into recruitment with a clean slate. Form your own opinions, and find the house that fits exactly who you are. Don’t settle for anything less.
Knowing who you are as a person is crucial. It’s weird and borderline awkward to think about, because you probably think you know exactly who you are right now. But honestly, I don’t think anyone really knows precisely who they are. We are always changing and evolving into new people; it could be though radical transitions, which change you as a person immediately, or through extremely subtle changes that you will notice years and years later. The point is that you should get to know yourself all over again. It will allow you to find a family and a home that is structured with the values that are essential to you. It will allow you to gain brothers and sisters who will never leave your side.
Recruitment is honestly a nerve-wracking experience. At the same time, it is absolutely nothing short of incredible. You are putting yourself out there in front of random people in the hopes of becoming a new, proud member of their family. How is that not nerve-wracking? On the other hand, if you are being your true, authentic self and find yourself having a great connection with a house, what can be more rewarding than that? Take one day at a time and reflect. Think about the conversations you had, and if they felt forced or effortless. Think about if you felt like you were home. Did you like the energy of the house? Could you picture yourself on the couch with the other girls watching Netflix after a crazy day at school? These are pretty strange questions, but they will also impact your decision.
If you could only take away one piece of advice from this article, I would want you to remember to just be yourself. Yeah, I sound like your mom on the first day of school. Deal with it, because it is mind-blowingly true. You can’t just put on an act or pretend to be someone that you aren’t just to get into a sorority or a fraternity. The whole point is finding a group of people who are similar to you, and even if there are some people who are different, they still complement you. Don’t try to be someone that you aren’t.
On your final day, the day you accept your bid, you will find exactly where you belong. Those people are going to always be there for you; they’re your new family. At the end of this remarkably gratifying and most likely exhausting process, you will be able to walk through the front door and say “I’m home."
