I had an interesting time in recruitment. I had friends who were already in a sorority at my future school who had told me where they already knew I would run to. So going in, I didn’t necessarily have my mind made up, but I did know that particular house they predicted was my “safety net."
On pref night I went to the two houses I liked the best, but on bid day I did not get my first choice. Don't get me wrong, today I am beyond thankful to wear the letters I do, but in all honesty, I wasn't happy those first 30 minutes while holding my bid card. I went through the motions of Greek life: I got my big, I held a position, I went to every event I could go to. But at one point I had to ask myself: is this the house I belong in? I combed through my experience and dwelled on my relationship with my sisters for a long time, and I eventually knew that the bid card I still have is the only one I ever want.1. When you walk in a room, your sisters actually light up and you feel welcomed.
There is no feeling like walking into a six-hour recruitment workshop, on three hours of sleep with zero coffee and you're welcomed with a genuine smile and real excitement. I will never forget when I walked into something late and I overheard a sister say, "Thank God, Sarah Kathryn is here, I know everything will be fine now." Being welcoming to your sisters is so important because it's how you build friendships and real sisterhood (shout-out to my sister Courtney Couch).
2. Even after spending all day together, you still don't mind the car ride home or the spontaneous McDonald's run.
You're not going to get along with every member of your sorority, that's just unrealistic. Even if you have 50 sisters or 200, there will most likely be someone who isn't your absolute favorite. But that's okay because you have sisters who you love! One of the sisters is also my roommate, a.k.a. we spend a lot of time together. Even after spending the entire day together, seeing each other at home, we still don't mind sitting on each others bed for an extra two hours just talking about nothing and everything. I know I made the right choice because I have found people that when we sit together in silence, it isn't awkward.
3. The system works.
Greek life and the recruitment process are extremely sensitive and nearly perfect. It really does work. Your recruitment counselor will always say, "Trust the system." It might sound stupid, but they know what they are talking about. The point is, the system works even after bid day. I know I was put in the right sorority because after I got my bid, my sisters still cared. I wasn't just another girl to be picked up at the door.
4. They actually want to be your sister (the most important for last).
When you get a bid, you automatically get sisters, not friends. You have to meet your sisters and spend time with them to get friendship. I think a lot of people drop their sorority because after a week they say, "I have no friends in Beta Zeta Beta yet!" But why would you? If you don't reach out to your sisters, you won't enjoy your time with them. I know my sorority is the one I belong in because I know that my sisters want to be my sister. During recruitment, the sisters who talked to me actually, genuinely, wholeheartedly were so happy when they picked me up at the door. Find sisters who want to be your sister.
I was the girl who didn't think that my sorority was the right one. I was the girl who questioned if my "true" house had dropped me. I was the girl with doubts. Now that I have invested in my sisters, they have invested in me. I couldn't imagine having any other sisters, and I know they couldn't imagine not having me. Today I couldn't be happier to be wearing double brown. Thank you, Gamma Phi Beta.
