This summer I took on one of the most difficult jobs I've ever been tasked with. I became recruitment chair for my sorority. All my life I have excelled in leadership positions but I have never been challenged in this way.
For those who don't know, formal recruitment is a major event within Greek life in which sororities find their new members. It takes thousands of hours of planning by each house and the Panhellenic association and it still somehow comes out looking like organized chaos.
Chaos. That is honestly the best way to describe 90 percent of my thoughts at this point. When I sleep I dream that I am doing all the things I need to. When I'm awake I'm trying to accomplish things, one step at a time. But in all the chaos several moments have really struck me.
During my chapter's "work week," a week devoted to teaching the chapter everything they need to know about recruitment, we had each member write down what they were most concerned about in regards to recruitment anonymously.
Three people wrote "I'm scared to let down my sisters" or "I'm afraid to disappoint everyone". Three people. Not one, not two, but three different sisters thought that they might let the rest of us down somehow. This resonated with me for days. Had I done something as a leader of the house to foster these thoughts? Wasn't it my job to encourage everyone to do their best while reassuring them that our bond as sisters is stronger than anything else. I was baffled as to how to reiterate without explicitly saying that all I am asking of my sisters is their best and nothing more.
So if I could address these sisters and any others who feel the same this is what I would say:
I am absolutely terrified to let YOU down! My biggest fear is to disappoint the same sisters who told me they believed in me, who have given me this amazing opportunity to make our sisterhood shine bright amongst a community of stars. Please understand that if you are giving me your best there is no way that you could disappoint me or any other sisters. We joined a house, this house, to gain a support system unlike any other. I personally do not take my commitment to be a true and constant friend lightly and I can only hope that you don't either. Know that in that moment during the 18th round when my voice is close to gone but I somehow manage to scream one last time and my face is stuck in a smile that only looks uncomfortable that I still love you all. Know that no matter how much stress I am under I will consistently make an effort to remember that you are my sisters not subjects and that I have a duty to you as much as you do to the house in this crazy recruitment process! Most importantly know that all your fears are mutual but that together we can do anything and we can do it well!
We are women after all!
