When the word rush escapes someone’s mouth, we stop. For a potential new member (PNM), it is the hope of finding the perfect sorority or fraternity. An outsider may conjure up ideas of hazing, or girls in matching t-shirts. Someone living near a house might cringe thinking about the noise of hundreds of girls. 

Yet we tend to forget what rush is for the sororities and fraternities. Rush, known to sorority girls as recruitment, is also a time when we reflect on our rush experience, look at how we have changed and remind ourselves of what we stand for.

Remembering the first information night, I was nervous, struggling to remember the PowerPoint overview of the sororities and the next week of recruitment. The other PNMs overwhelmed me. 

Today, I know that PNMs do not spontaneously appear. To have a full room of PNMs requires planning, visiting classrooms and bombarding social media like someone who just learned how to use emoji. If recruitment feels long for a PNM, it is even longer for the sisters who set up and take down, as well as attend all the events. 

The stress level is different, but not any less. Are there enough underclassmen? Will they meet the major and GPA requirement? Can I see this girl as a sister? 

Talking to shy, quiet girls can make everything more difficult. After four hours, I want to have more than vibes. I want to know enough about the PNM to defend or prosecute her in court. Alright, it's a little unrealistic, but recruitment is no joke. 

Sitting in the interviewer’s seat is an experience everyone should have, even just once. After going through the standard questions, I realize that the questions people don’t expect are perhaps the most informative to the interviewer. Obviously, girls want to do service, take on leadership and are interested in sisterhood. PNMs know better than to say that they only want to party. But what kind of service activities move them? What skills do they believe they can contribute as a leader? What are their goals while in college? These are not easy questions. Truthfully, I also struggle to answer them. As a sister, I am listening for more than their words, but how they answer the question and their passion.

As time-consuming as recruitment may be, I secretly like it. Getting to see my sisters every night is the best. We compare classes, talk about our vacations, speed date, have cupcake wars or make cards. There is no hazing, but there is plenty of laughing. 

Since rushing as a freshman, I have become more comfortable going up to strangers and starting conversations. I have a greater appreciation for agriculture and skills to work with groups in different environments. 

During voting, it becomes apparent that the next pledge class will change the face of the sorority. Discussion can get heated and there are moments when no one has anything to say. When we finish voting, I sigh with a sense of relief and excitement. Welcome to the family!