It's that time of year again when hundreds of girls wearing pretty dresses and high heels flock from sorority house to sorority house in search of their "home away from home." Exactly a year ago I was in the middle of sorority recruitment –which is crazy considering I remember every fear, struggle, and obstacle I experienced during that excruciating week– but now I am (thankfully) the one meeting with potential new members and deciding whether or not they're a good fit for my sorority. Even though it was a year ago, the emotions I felt as a freshman during recruitment are still clear in my mind; I remember feeling extremely insecure and overwhelmed, but most especially, I felt lost.

Now that it's been a year since I went through recruitment and a year since getting a bid from my sorority, I have realized a lot about the process that I don't think a lot of people know. For example, sorority recruitment requires weeks and weeks of preparation; not only are sororities rehearsing the logistics behind each round, but they're also searching and spending tons of money on the clothes required for each round.

Despite the extra things sororities have to go through before recruitment even begins, the recruitment process is honestly a really eye-opening and fulfilling experience. I have learned so much about not only myself but about the amazing women that come through my sorority's doors.

I can confidently say that everyone who goes through recruitment becomes a better person despite the outcome; whether a potential new member receives a bid from their desired sorority or whether they decide to drop out of recruitment, it's through this process that they learn a lot about who they are.

I remember realizing during recruitment how good I was at conversing with women I had never met and how easy it was to build a relationship with someone within a short amount of time, but now that I am on the other side of things, I have realized just how beautiful and optimistic all of the potential new members are. Instead of choosing a sorority solely based on perception and looks, the majority of women are searching for a sorority that is truly right for them. Joining a sorority is more than finding friends, it's a place where you can individually grow in all aspects of your life.

It's important that when going through recruitment you base your opinions and beliefs solely on your own experiences and feelings; it can get hard when you're constantly being told which sorority is the best or which sorority is most like you, but you just have to rely on your self to make the best decision. Recruitment is about bonding like-minded women together; it's not about popularity or self-worth, but rather it's about finding a community of women that will value and accept all of your quirks.