Dear Freshman Ladies,

We are so excited to meet you. None of us know who the future pledge Class of 2019 will be, but we are dying to find out.

I remember recruitment and it was a lot to handle. For someone like me who never had any intention of joining a sorority, overwhelmed is an understatement. While girls were crying about what necklace to wear, I ended up talking about poop during my meet and greets, and each time we walked into the recruitment room it felt like a rollercoaster of song, dance and smiles rushing towards us. Yes, recruitment is nerve-racking.

But I want to remind you: Sorority girls are more scared of you than you are of them.

Going through recruitment from your side, I understand how it might seem impossible. You feel like you’re being judged. You feel like you need to do things right. You feel in the dark about if you’ll be invited back.

Yet, sorority girls are in the same boat. Our entire sisterhood and what we stand for is open to critique when you walk through those doors. Each sorority girl fears messing up which would potentially mean losing an awesome new member. And we are in the dark as much as you are: We don’t pick you, you pick us. You have every right to decline a bid or not return the next day.

I saw the University of Washington’s Pi Beta Phi recruitment video on my newsfeed yesterday. Their video is awesome- it shows laughing, goofiness, and the desire to bring others into their community. Their video has no speaking but instead shows a glimpse of what being in their sorority is like—growing, learning, and spending time with people you love every day. I believe this video reflects their ability to be inviting, silly, and sincere which are all qualities every girl should look for in a sorority.

But once they put the video online, anyone can make comments. Anyone can make fun. Something each of these girls love so much can be attacked by the world. Recruitment is scary because we fear that others will speak down about a group of girls who have become our family.

I am not one to get mushy about sisterhood, nor do I ever plan to be, but I’ve seen something really cool about sororities by being in one. I’ve realized that you will find a place, sometimes one you never expected, and it will be full of girls you seem to have something in common with. You’re all in the same sorority. You’re all in the same family. And therefore you’re all in this together.

For the freshman starting recruitment soon: please don’t worry about the girls on the other side of that door. They want to show you something that means the world to them. Go in with an open mind and an open heart. Remember that each of us felt the same way you did and ended up somewhere we now call home.

For the sorority sisters starting recruitment soon: breathe. It will all be okay and you will have a fabulous new pledge class to spoil real soon.

*S/O to the ladies of Pi Beta Phi for a great recruitment video! To check it out, click on the link below!