Being in a fraternity, at least in your first year has a lot of stages. You feel very different it each one. From rush, to pledeship, to initiation, to rush, to having pledges so many things change. All in the course of a year.
1. Going through rush
This is when for the only time in your Greek career there are no consequences. You can go and do whatever you want and its just seen as a young college kid spreading his wings. You can tons of fun and nobody makes fun of you. Everybody likes you (or at least it seems like they do) because they want you to pledge their fraternity. No cops at parties so there is no fear of getting arrested or sent home. Better yet there is no EC and being called out in chapter. Although there is not really a feeing of being in a brotherhood going through rush some of the parties are the best. You also think choosing a fraternity is stressful but you have no idea.
2. Pledgeship
Oh boy what have you gotten yourself into, during rush everyone was your best friend and now they could care less about you. Its your pledge class vs. The World. Your first pledge test seems like any normal test you can just start studying the night before, until you realize they don't want a summary they want word for word memorization and you realize your screwed. Time management has never been more prevalent in your life, but you join a brotherhood with the guys you pledge with and you would do anything or them. Somehow its become the most memorable time of your life but you would never do it again.
3. Post Initiation
This is the strangest time of Fraternity life. You're trying hard to remember all the ritual stuff that was kinda just slung on you. Also these guys who have put themselves higher than you for weeks and now your brothers and equals and its hard to adjust. You volunteer for everything and just want to be excepted. Honestly you just don't want to be seem as a pledge and you want to be well liked. So anytime someone asks to eat or play a sport you're there no questions asked.
4. Your first round of rushees
"Ahh these rushees are here again." You suddenly have a new power you have never felt before, the ability to choose someone's fate. You can let them have a chance to join your sacred fraternity or you can turn them away. Although you were literally in the same place they are a few months before you feel so much more important. But frankly you need them and its kind of fun to try to get them to like you. You may not even like them but you want them to know this is the best fraternity.
5. Your first pledges
This is what you have been waiting for, pledges. Ever since you were initiated all you wanted were pledges. Frankly just because it raises you on the totem pole. You're no longer on the bottom or the "new guys". But you also feel obligated to help them a little, you know what its like and you know you wish you had more help so why not. It's an exciting time you get to watch these boys grow up into men and better your fraternity.
