This time last year, I had just finished my first week of classes as an official college student. Everything was great, I felt like I was an adult making my own decisions and, for once, was actually learning something in a class that I was interested in. I felt on top of the world! I met so many people and slowly formed a friend group that I knew supported me in everything. As time went on, I was eager to get involved on campus and be a part of something, do something important. But I didn't know what. I wasn't the most involved in high school; I stuck to what I knew and didn't really branch out much in the volunteer aspect. But I knew I wanted to do more in college.
As the year went on, girls slowly started to chat more about this thing called "recruitment." Honestly, I had no idea what they were talking about. I didn't know what the stitched letters girls wore on campus meant and I didn't know why those same girls kept trying to talk to me on the drill field as I was walking to class. I mean, I knew what a sorority was, but I had absolutely no intentions of joining one for any good reason. I just didn't think it was "for me," but had no valid reason why I thought that. Maybe because I didn't necessarily see myself as the overly outgoing, girly, high heel-wearing "sorority girl." But here's what you need to know about sorority WOMEN and recruitment, and why it really is for you:
1. There's no such thing as a typical "sorority girl."
First of all, sorority "girls" should not be referred to as girls, because they are women - women who do amazing things for our college campuses and women who study things from music to engineering, women who have different styles in clothing, women who have different tastes in music, and women who have brown hair, blonde hair, red hair, black hair, and even purple hair. There are no two women who are the same in any sorority; everyone is different. So, if you were worried that you don't fit the "type," you do.
2. It isn't as intimidating as it seems.
Spending a whole week talking to women I didn't know day in and day out honestly terrified me. How was I supposed to relate to every single one of these women and be able to have a conversation with literally hundreds of girls? Little did I know, these women couldn't wait to talk to me. They made sure every conversation was about me and about my interests and I never once felt uncomfortable. It's truly a week dedicated to you!
3. Don't mind the singing at the door.
It can be kind of scary walking into a room with women singing/screaming songs, but just know it's because they're excited and they don't actually sing like that all the time.
4. They aren't always this dressed up or peppy.
Recruitment is an exciting time for all involved, and just as you probably won't be this dressy or peppy after recruitment, neither will they. They are real women just like you, who probably wear shorts and a T-shirt to class and don't always smile that hard all the time.
5. Don't be disheartened if you get dropped by a chapter.
Even though you will get tired of hearing it, its true that you end up where you're meant to be. So if one of your favorite chapters drops you early on, keep going. Sometimes they dropped you to meet a certain quota or maybe your GPA wasn't up to par, but don't take it to heart. The chapter you belong in is still on your list, I promise.
6. Go through recruitment for the right reasons
Go through recruitment because you want to meet amazing women. Go through recruitment because you want to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Go through recruitment to meet your best friends. Don't go through recruitment to get in the "top" sorority, to go to parties, or because you want to meet fraternity men. Those things aren't actually even relevant once you join a sorority. And I promise, if you didn't do it for the right reasons, you really won't end up where you belong!
7. There is no such thing as a top sorority.
Yes, there are chapters that you might see on campus more than others, but no chapter is better than another and no chapter is "top tier" compared to another. Don't listen to those rumors; everyone in Greek life is a family. It isn't a competition.
8. You really will end up where you belong.
Like I said, it's easy to get disheartened at times, but in the end, you will really end up in the right place, and opening your bid will be one of your happiest moments.
