Going through recruitment was an easy decision for me. I wanted to meet new people, find friends that were like me, and most importantly, move in early.
I went in thinking this was going to be such an easy process; meeting a bunch of girls, having fun, and eventually narrowing down my choices to the one that I felt I fit in best. I was so focused on myself; I forgot there was a whole other side of recruitment.
After meeting my Pi Chi group and my new roommates for the year I thought I was ready, but boy was I wrong. The stress and breakdowns came on in full force and they came fast. It wasn’t just the stress of “Are these the right shoes for this outfit?”, but it was trying to set up my new room with roommates I have never met before, living in a place 17 hours away from my friends and family, and knowing that there were groups completely denying me. Denial, for me, was the worst. I’ve never handled it well, and frankly, I still don’t (even though recruitment did help with it). All of these stressors made me into a complete mess. And if you’re like me, stress turns into lack of sleep, which turns into more stress (its vicious cycle that I realized comes around again during midterms and finals).
Although I hid my miserable interior with smiles and positivity, trust me, I was dying. I called my mom crying every day, whether I was getting the choices I wanted or not. I was so stressed and sleep deprived I couldn’t contain myself. The day I opened up to my roommates though, was the day things started turning around. Unfortunately, this wasn’t until Preference round, the last day of the longest week of my life. I’ll never forget walking into my room crying because I didn’t get one of my choices and hearing my roommates holding back their tears too. Once we were all crying in front of each other though, sobbing soon became laughter. We had all gotten so caught up in the process and keeping up appearances, we forgot that there were hundreds of others girls feeling the exact same way. That night I don’t think I got any sleep, I was too anxious awaiting my Pi Chi to deliver my bid the next morning.
When I heard her knock on my door, I completely froze. I finally built up the courage to open the door, and I was completely overjoyed. There was a sorority on campus that wanted me, and felt that I would make a good addition; the endless denial was finally over. Although I had bags under my eyes the size of golf balls, and I looked like a complete mess, I could not have been happier.
One year later and I don’t regret one second of my experience. In fact, I would do it all over again (at least I think I would). When I look back on those pictures I took on Bid Day I don’t see those dark circles under my eyes but the excitement that filled them. I have a position in my sorority and will continue to run for other positions in the next few years. If I had not gone through all of that stress and misery I would have never met any of my best friends or had any of the opportunities that have been given to me. I have tried to make the most of my experience in Greek life, and I believe I have. I have gone outside my comfort zone, achieved things I never thought were possible, and have found friends to last a life time not only in my organization, but in others as well. Joining Greek life, and being a member of my organization has changed my life for the better and has truly been the best decision I have ever made.
