Being an introvert in the Greek system (and how I survived rush):

I’m a proud introvert. I love spending time alone, I would rather stay in and read rather than go out every weekend, and I hold and trust only a few people with my true self. I'm not in many pictures with a large group of people because I rarely go out or spend time with more than just a few people. I’m typically mellow rather than high energy, I listen more than talk, and I prefer to observe and people watch rather than socializing.

As proud and accepting as I am to be an introvert, my experience during recruitment was, needless to say, more difficult for me over the more outgoing girls. And yet I survived it, learned and thrived through it, and am now part of an organization that not only accepts my introvert personality, but needs it.

I am one of hundreds of actives in my chapter, and an overwhelming number of those girls seem to be outgoing, opinionated, gregarious and simply more friendly than I and my other introverted sisters seem to be. But being an introvert does not mean that I am antisocial. It simply means that I thrive in quieter, more secluded situations. Introverts prefer small groups over large gatherings, recharge by being alone, and tend to stick to comfortable people and situations rather than trying new things. These are not characteristics shared across the board, but are fairly typical for introverts.

In short, I’m quieter, more laid back, and more selective on my friends and activities.

So, how on earth did I survive rush?

For one, I had to accept that small talk was going to happen. As much as I cringe at the thought of talking about the weather and what I’m watching on Netflix lately, small talk is a key part of recruitment and—in general—meeting new people. There’s no way around this, so introverts, you just have to grit your teeth and gush over "Grey’s Anatomy" for a bit before the deep convos come.

Secondly, I had to keep reminding myself to power through it. I, like many introverts, tend to get overstimulated by large crowds, big events, and long days. It was not uncommon for me to get exhausted and start zoning out halfway through a round, and have to jolt myself back to the conversation. To get around this introverted habit, take time to recharge by yourself between rounds. You don’t have to socialize on your down time, so buy yourself a Coke from the vending machine, find a quiet corner in the break room, and just let yourself chill for a second.

Finally, focus on the one-on-one interactions rather than the bigger picture. Introverts tend to look at a larger scene to gauge their emotions and responses, and recruitment can seem like an introvert’s worst nightmare. The loudness of the room, the sometimes fake-looking girls around you, and the intimidating festiveness of the house can be overwhelming to say the least. But recruitment is about making connections with the active you’re talking to. It’s only when I really relaxed and got caught up in the personal conversations that houses and girls really made an impact on me. If I was too focused on the flashy decorations or how the PNM next to me had a much cuter dress on, things started to get awkward and fake. By focusing on just the girl in front of you and her story about how she fell in love with this chapter, you can give yourself something to truly listen to, which, after all, is an introvert’s greatest trait.

To the introverted PNMs going through recruitment this year: relax. You’ll do great. Remember to focus on what’s important, don’t stress the little things, and give yourself time to be you, both in the rounds and outside. It’ll be challenging, especially if you start comparing to your extroverted roommate’s experiences, but in the end, you’ll find a chapter that accepts, loves and needs your introverted little self.