Ah, the realm of sorority recruitment. What a colorful and interesting way to spend your last week of summer vacation. For those of you who have gone through the process as Potential New Members (PNM’s), I’m sure the long, hot days were torture. However, the inside of the process is an entirely different story.
While I cannot divulge the secrets and rituals of my own chapter, I can share the commonality among each sorority during the experience that is rush week:
- Applauding and whooping when your name isn’t called to rush someone and you get to take a break in the back. Instead of “put me in coach I’m ready to play.” it’s more like, “please bench me, I’m willing to stay.” Seriously, it’s OKAY.
- Fiending like animals when the snacks are brought out.
- Smiling so hard your face is awkwardly sore.
- Trading food for massages while on a break. Along with a smile similar to Botox, you need to relax your shoulders from standing like a stiff robot.
- Shushing, yelling, and frantically running around before the PNM’s walk into the house.
- Watching and listening to the same skits, videos, and speeches so many times only to have each and every word memorized.
- Taking quick naps on the floor like bums during breaks.
- Unfortunately getting your heart broken when your "rush crush" drops your house.
- Trudging home after the long days; struggling through the cold nights.
- All jokes aside, recruitment is ultimately a great experience. It sounds cliché, but girls truly do find their homes away from home.
The stresses and heartaches of the entire process are worth making lifelong friends; not to mention a ton of fun along the way.
