Most people either view sorority recruitment as an empowering experience or something quite terrifying that they would never want to go through. We have all seen the YouTube videos and the movies of the loud chants and clapping hands being thrown into your face. I will say, yes it is a bit nerve racking at first and from an outsider’s perspective I can see how it seems a bit absurd to put yourself through that for just a “sisterhood” or “brotherhood.” Before recruitment even starts, you come back to your dorm room to find your name drawn out across the door onto a poster with a saying along the lines of “good luck with recruitment.” That moment of seeing all the Greek letters right in front of you, waiting for one of them to be called your new home, is fulfilling and warm. That is only the beginning. The first day of recruitment, especially if you participate in the Fall, is a sweaty, sticky and not to mention frightening first day. You are standing in a group that consists of about 200 or more girls waiting to step foot into that first house. Standing in line, the countdown begins. Ten, nine, eight.. the Rho Gamma’s, girls already initiated in various chapters, begin counting down and banging the doors heavily. By this point your heart is racing a million times per second, while your palms are just doused with sweat from anticipation. Entering a house is a different feeling each time, one that is difficult to express in words. Strange faces surround you, each of them carrying unique smiles. Warm, welcoming hands embrace you as they guide you into their home. You’re not going to always have the best of conversations. Some of my engagements with the girls were dull and didn’t make me feel so comfortable. That being said, not every house is like that and that’s the purpose of this process of elimination. It’s to help you find where your truly meant to be. You continue this process for four days, from having meaningful conversations to not so engaged talks with unfamiliar faces that, as the week goes on, become more familiar. All of the girls are waiting nervously in hopes of making it to the fifth day, Bid Day. This means that you have been asked by a sorority to join their sisterhood. It is up to you if you choose to accept the bid or not.
A lot of emotions play a major role in recruitment week. You will see girls crying because they have been dropped from their top (favorite) houses or they have been cut and are no longer going through the process. There will also be girls glowing with happiness every day and just loving every second of this experience. For me personally, it was a growing struggle. Not every second was all sunshine. I felt discouraged at times and most definitely let down, but I am here to encourage anyone considering joining, to give it a try. I don’t feel as if my friends back home or people who are on the other side that have not gone through a rush event quite grasp the concept of the commitment it takes. It’s not just a commitment to sticking with recruitment week, but a responsibility that changes your life the second you sign your name on the dotted line. I know my life has changed since the day I decided to join. Was it what I expected? No. I did not love every moment, but the thrill of meeting so many new girls is what I cherish. Recruitment helped me grow into the person that I am today, while helping me break out of my comfort zone. I am thankful to be where I am now with the sisters that I have. Rushing a sorority is an intense ride. So, if you are planning on joining the legacy, hold on tight. It’s going to be an interesting next five days.
