I was over-involved in high school. I was a team member on the softball and swim team, the Historian and eventually Vice President of Student Government, Co-President of the Drama Club, and a member of a couple other organizations on campus. When I got to college, I was only really focused on one thing: softball. I knew playing a college sport was going to take up a large portion of my life, so I never thought I would get the opportunity to do other things, while still maintaining the standards I set for myself in the classroom.
One of the advantages of going to a small liberal arts college and playing a Division III sport is that sports don't have to be your whole life. You work hard, your team works hard, and it’s at the top of your priorities list, but it doesn’t have to be the only thing you’re involved with on campus. I didn’t realize that as a freshman, but as the years have gone on, I’ve joined Green Terror Programs, became a part of this growing Odyssey community, and gotten more involved with the theater department.
Last semester, a few of my friends decided to go through Spring Recruitment. I decide not to, because I thought I just couldn’t handle another thing on my plate, and for the longest time I never saw myself being a “sorority girl.” Everyone knows the stereotypes you see on television and I knew it wasn’t completely like that, but as an athlete, I just thought you were one or the other -- never both. After more of my friends started joining sororities, I noticed how different the sororities were at McDaniel than the ones I had stereotyped for so long. As girls on my team started joining sororities, I realized how possible it was to do both.
After recruitment, it just so happened that all my friends really loved the girls of Phi Mu, and ended up receiving and accepting bids from them. All Spring I was hearing words like Big, Little, Phis, Initiation, Pinning, Founder’s Day Brunch, and Throwing What You Know, and half the time I had no idea what they were talking about. I read Alexa’s (one of McDaniel’s content Creators) article about all of her friends being in a sorority, and I identified so hard with that. I felt like I was missing out on something, but more so, felt like I missed out on an opportunity I would have really enjoyed.
As a junior, I never thought it’d be possible to have the opportunity of rushing. I was too old right? Also, now that I’m starting to get to know and like the other girls in Phi Mu, what were my actual chances of joining the same sorority that my friends are in? And if I did join, would I really have time for everything I want to do?
As a start, I decided to go to the Phi Mu Open House. I was nervous, but after getting to know a lot of the girls in the room, I knew I was meant to be there. Everyone was so nice and every conversation I had just clicked, and even though it was a lot of talking, the time flew by. The day after, I was freaking out. My friends only knew so much and could only tell me so much, so I waited hoping to hear something from anyone. That’s when I realized I really wanted this. I specifically really wanted to be a Phi Mu. After a super stressful day anticipating a call, text, email, something, anything, I received my bid and accepted on the spot!
Four weeks later, I couldn’t be happier with my choice. I love the girls of Phi Mu, and while it’s nice to have your friend group all in the same sorority, I started to really bond with people I would’ve never met had I not joined. I am not only understanding the terminology I spent all Spring hearing, but am also excited to be a part of it. I know now that had I not gone through recruitment in some form, I would have seriously regretted it. I look forward to throwing up more quats and seeing what my future holds with Phi Mu. I can also say I found h(ΦM)e here at McDaniel (cheesy, I know).
