Littles,

I can barely remember how excited I was to go through my first recruitment and spirit week, but I'm so blessed that I get to see it all again through your eyes! Even though recruitment can be tiring, it's also one of the best things you get to do as a sorority woman. Recruitment is where I met one of you for the very first time and knew right then that we'd be sisters for life. It's where you too will also meet your future friends, sisters, and littles.

The thing you don't know about recruitment yet is that it's just as grueling as it is exhilarating. You will stand for hours, your feet will hurt, you'll probably lose feeling in at least one of our limbs, and at the end of the day, even your face will hurt from smiling. Oh, and you'll also probably lose your voice before bid day, but I know that you will endure it all without complaint (and lots of hot tea). We'll be singing just as loudly, and at least look just as happy for the last round on preference day as we did for the very first round of recruitment orientation.

Now, I tell you all of this because I want you to know recruitment is hard. But you are strong, and you know that our letters and this organization will always support you. I know that you're not going to want to be there all day, but I also know that you will stand tall and confidently for hours on end, and I know that you will smile and treat each and every potential new member with the same kindheartedness that made me and all of our sisters adore you during your own recruitment process. And even though you'll want nothing more than a Starbucks Frappuccino and a nap, I promise, little, it will be so worth it when we stand together and wait for each girl to open her bid and come running home to us on Bid Day.

The most important thing to remember about recruitment is that we are trained to handle this. We spend weeks practicing for recruitment; the potential new member has none of that training, and she's a lot more scared that you are, so it's your turn to comfort her and make her feel welcome in our home. Just try and remember how nervous you were during your own recruitment and while you were waiting for your bid. And well, to a new member coming through, it probably feels just a little bit like this:

Remember that each girl that you speak with during recruitment is trying to find her own special place: whether that's here or in another house. I know that your positive attitudes will look past all the soreness that is recruitment, and that you will find excitement in helping a new member find her home. Because you just wouldn't be my littles if you didn't have that kind of homely sweetness

Oh, and I'll make sure we can have a group nap at my place after Bid Day.