Recruitment. 

Many words come to mind at the sound of this word: excitement, fear, apprehension, and curiosity are just a few. Although everyone has their own unique reasons for going through recruitment, most girls can probably agree that the entire process can be an emotional roller coaster. How do I figure out which sorority I’m going to be in for the next four (or maybe 5 if you’re feeling the Victory Lap) years of college in a few short days? How do I make this huge decision in such a short amount of time? What if I make the wrong choice? The anxious thoughts are endless.

I went through recruitment with absolutely no idea what I was doing. I am from a small town where barely anyone I knew had any experience with Greek Life. Quite honestly, being in a group with over 100 girls actually sounded awful. At the same time, I wanted a chance to meet new people. I finally convinced myself to give recruitment a chance with the reassurance that if I absolutely hated it I could drop out before the week was over.

The first day arrived. Alpha Delta Pi was the first house on my schedule. When I walked through the doors of the house, I had no idea that I was in a place that would one day be my home or that I was talking to girls that would become my family.     

To this day I can still remember the first conversation I had at ADPi. After being completely freaked out by the smiles and the cheers that met me at the doors, I was welcomed by a girl named Whitney Mann. To my surprise, she didn’t seem like a typical sorority girl whatsoever. Her relaxed personality calmed me. I was able to have a normal conversation with her. It wasn’t anything outrageous. Sparks didn’t fly. I didn’t feel like I had met my soul mate. I simply felt comfortable. Nothing about our conversation was forced. I didn’t feel like I had to follow a script or come up with elaborate things about myself to impress her. I was myself and that seemed good enough for Whitney.   

A lot of girls will tell you that they instantly knew which sorority they were meant to be in from the moment they walked through the doors. Some girls come into the recruitment process with predetermined opinions about sororities, and they don’t allow any part of the week to change their minds. Neither of these scenarios applied to me. I can’t tell you that I knew on the first day that I was going to end up with a bid from ADPi in my hands at the end of the week. I can’t even tell you that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that this sorority was where I was meant to be when I wrote “Alpha Delta Pi” on my preference card. What I can tell you is that I felt peaceful when I was at ADPi. The times throughout the week when I felt like I was the most myself was when I was at ADPi. When I spoke to the girls at ADPi, I didn’t feel like they were trying to impress me or pressure me. I felt welcomed. I felt wanted. I felt valued. I saw the genuine love each girl had for one another, and although I didn’t understand it at the time, I wanted what those girls had. 

I can’t tell you what I was looking for in recruitment, but I can tell you what I found. There is not a single moment that I have ever regretted the decision I made. The past two years have been filled with laughter and tears, and my sisters have been there for me through both the good times and the bad. After my experiences in high school, I never would have imagined that girls could be so uplifting and encouraging. These girls celebrate with me through my success and comfort me through my failures. I never feel judged here. I never feel like I have to be someone I’m not.   

If you were to ask me what kind of girls are in ADPi, I could not give you a simple answer because there is no stereotypical ADPi. Everyone has different interests, personalities, and talents. What connects us are our values and our love for one other. That is the core of who we are. Our motto at Alpha Delta Pi is “We live for each other.” I couldn’t fully explain this to you if I tried because it’s not something that could be put into words. All I can say is that my life would not be the same without the friendships I’ve made and the experiences I’ve had through ADPi.  

I came into ADPi with many fears, but my biggest was that being in a sorority would change me to become something that I’m not. I didn’t want to lose the person I am just to be accepted by a group of girls. But that’s the thing… ADPi didn’t change me. They saw the good in me and encouraged me to embrace that person. They looked past all my imperfections and insecurities and saw the real me and loved that person unconditionally. Their love encouraged me to see the good in myself. ADPi didn’t change me. It brought out the best in me. Because of ADPi, I discovered who I truly am and have friends that are there to remind me of this on the days when I forget.  

I don’t know what you’re looking for in recruitment. You might not even fully understand yourself. I can only hope that you find a place you can call home and a group of friends who become family. I know I did. 

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