For as long as I can remember, I wanted to rush. During my sophomore year of high school, I knew for sure that I wanted to go Greek. During my senior year, I knew that I wanted to go to Mississippi State University. Near the middle of my senior year, plans changed, and I was going to Northwest Community College. I would be closer to home and would complete two years of college here. After my two years at Northwest, I thought the idea of me going Greek was through. My roommate, Jordan, helped me decide to rush. I've always seen shows and movies about Greek life, but some shed a bad light on it. But, during the week of recruitment, the Greek community showed me the true side.

The weeks leading up to recruitment, my excitement grew. Two weeks before rush started, I received a call from my Gamma Chi. A Gamma Chi is a leader for us for the week. They disaffiliate from their sorority for the week to help girls like me make decisions about the sorority they want to call home. My Gamma Chi made the phone call personal to me and held light conversation about my interests or any questions I had. My Gamma Chi wanted to get to know me as a person, be my friend. Being able to have someone to help me before I even got to state was a comforting feeling to have.

The day I arrived at state, recruitment week was going to begin. Before the week began, we had a meeting the first night to meet our Gamma Chi in person, other girls in our Gamma Chi group and the Panhellenic Council. We were given information about what will happen during rush. Recruitment week consisted of five days: Go Greek which was two days, Philanthropy day, Sisterhood day and Preference day. After the brief meeting, we went home to get ready for the week ahead of us.

The first two days allowed us to go to all eight houses. Each girl had a schedule arranged specifically for them. Each girl followed the schedule to go to each house. Before you go in you must wait for the group before you to finish. While you are waiting, the Gamma Chi girls are outside with you. These girls answered any questions you had, helped you with any dilemma you were in and hyped every girl that was outside, waiting to go in and see if this house was going to be their future home. When you go into the house you are greeted with a chapter member. Before I walked into my first house, I was nervous, and I know that I wasn't the only one. Once I was greeted at the door, these girls in the house made me feel welcomed, they wanted me here. Each girl I talked to, in every house, got to know me and they are wanting to see if you are right for the house, just like you are seeing if that house and the group of girls is right for you. And trust me, they do want you here, they want to get to know you for who you are and not who you feel you need to be.

For each day after Go Greek, the number of houses is narrowed from your choices and the choices the houses make. Me being a junior going through recruitment, I knew that my chances would be slimmer. Even if you want to rush and you are a junior, don't let that discourage you, there is a house that is made for you, just like there was one for me. The more days you go back, are getting to know more about the house and the girls. The girls in the house know more about you. Each day, no matter how many houses you have, you want to go back to all houses. As the days passed, I knew which house I wanted. The girls wanted me for me, we had the same interests, the philanthropy had impacted me in a personal way and there was a certain feeling I got while being in the house and being with these girls. Not saying that the other houses weren't genuine, but I know where my home was meant to be and when you go through recruitment, you will too.

I'm not saying that going through recruitment is an easy decision, it's not. It can and probably will stress you out. But don't let that discourage you. I made friends going through the process and then gained sisters when I ran home on Bid Day. Recruitment isn't what movies and shows make it out to be. It is show much more. You gain a home, a family and a community.