The end of August is a beautiful time in Montevallo. Freshmen are moving in. Students are returning to school. The first two weeks will be filled with new classes, new and old faces and seemingly endless activities. One of which just so happens to be sorority recruitment.
Recruitment is a rather bizarre matter. Three nights, five sororities and in the end you must choose one to call home. To some recruitment can seem like a scene from the Hunger Games (except of course nobody dies). To others recruitment is a time of joy and excitement. You get to go through it with some of your new friends, or perhaps people you went to high school with. You meet new people, learn about great causes and in the end find a second home. For me recruitment is both.
When I went through recruitment my freshman year it was with a hesitant heart. I came to a school where I knew no one and my single companion those first couple of days was my roommate. It was she who convinced me to go through recruitment and everyday I thank her for it. At the time, though, I was unsure whether or not Greek life was for me. I am by no means the picture of a stereotypical sorority woman. I am short, a little thicker than most and an absolute nerd. Academia was my whole life before I came to the university.
Little did I know just how different Montevallo is from the rest of the world. Not only is Montevallo unique in its approach towards homecoming and academia, but it is unique in its approach to the extracurriculars as well. Greek life at Montevallo is nothing like I’ve ever encountered. In fact, I don’t know any Greek affiliated student at Montevallo that would be able to classify their sorority or fraternity as “stereotypical.” The Greek women and men that I know are kind, generous, scholarly, supportive of their causes and the causes of others, supportive of their brothers and sisters and, perhaps most importantly, they are all unique individuals. It was not until I realized what Greek life at Montevallo was like that I felt a change of heart. Believe me, I was still timid and nervous (who wouldn’t be?) but I was also excited. I was excited to meet all of these wonderful women who I might have the privilege of soon calling my sisters and best friends.
As I made my way through the recruitment process I realized what Greek life is all about. It’s about dedication and confidence. It’s about growing as a leader despite whether or not you step into a leadership role. It’s about learning temperance and humility and patience. It’s about finding your support group and calling them family. Greek life is about teamwork and perseverance, acceptance and love. I don’t remember which trait I saw first in the sorority that I now call home, but as I have grown in my sorority I have discovered each and every trait within them. And I have found that the Greek community, as members of NPC, NPHC and IFC sororities and fraternities we all hold true to these principles.
If you are planning to go through recruitment in the fall then I wish you the best of luck. We could not be more honored. If you are still on the fence, I hope that I have given you a glimpse of who we are and I hope that you will join the Greek community at Montevallo.
