When I decided to rush a sorority, I cannot even begin to explain half the thoughts running through my head. I was terrified, nervous, excited, anxious, and had absolutely no idea what to expect. Now that it is over, I have outlined what I thought rushing would be like compared to what it actually was like.
Everyone will be gorgeous, tall, skinny, and blonde, and they'll all be so beautiful I'll just sit there and look stupid.
Yes, rush can seem intimidating, but for the most part, lots of the girls are just like you. With that being said, there definitely were times when I looked up and admired perfect curls or lipstick. For the most part, you've probably seen lots of these girls in classes, in sweats, or just hanging out being a normal human.
It's like prepping for an interview.
The night before my first day of recruitment, I called up one of my friends from home and drilled her about questions they would ask me, so naturally, I assumed it would be like an interview. I came to recruitment with basic answers, interesting facts, and good questions to ask back. While it was a good idea to be prepared, the sororities are looking for genuine answers and conversations and not just constant facts.
I'm going to be the one person that is going to be screwed by the system.
Going through recruitment, I had never wanted to hear a phrase less: Trust the Process. AKA trust a system you've never experienced before for a decent sized life decision. Around the third round, I started panicking that nothing would work out, nobody would want me, and I'd have to make the choice whether to drop or pursue a sorority I didn't love (which is totally okay, too). My rho gamma then had a heart-to-heart with me and explained that it is natural to feel anxious, but it will work out as long as you're yourself.
Time for perfect posture, makeup, and outfits.
The first sorority I thought I absolutely loved could not be more of a worse fit for me, looking back at it. Every single time I went there, I made sure I was on my best behavior with no makeup smudges, standing up straight, giving a firm handshake each time. All of this is good to do, but it's not who I am, and you need to really find a place where you're comfortable.
I'd be at a disadvantage, because I knew little about sorority life or girls in a sorority.
When I came to Syracuse, I knew nobody and had a relatively hard time adjusting, so by not knowing every detail of Greek life or not knowing a lot of girls in sororities, I thought it would hurt me. After just one meeting with other girls rushing, I realized we were all in a similar boat and that the majority of us had absolutely no idea what we were doing (let alone know where the houses were located), and that's totally normal.
It won't work out.
This thought ran through my head every second of the recruitment process, but honestly it will as long as you're being your truest self. Even if it doesn't end up the way you would've expected it, there are always options to your decisions such as trying out a sorority, dropping, or even rushing again. At the time, it definitely seems like the most important life decision you'll ever make, but I promise you, it'll all work out in the end.
