Hi there! I know exactly how you are feeling in this moment. It's okay if you decided to go through sorority recruitment last minute or if your family basically signed you up the moment they found out you would be a girl. It is okay if you go to a school with 20 sororities to pick from or a school that only has 3 options. No matter the circumstances, I get it! I have been where you are and I have a few pointers for you.
1. Relax.
Seriously, just breathe! Everyone in the room is nervous, it is inevitable. There is no need to stress yourself out, everyone just wants to get to know you!
2. Be Yourself.
Like I said, the most important thing you can do is be yourself! Going through recruitment on the sorority side I have seen just how important that information is! All we want is for girls to come in and be themselves! We want to get to know the real you, not the version of you you think we want to see!
3. Be Selfish.
I mean this in the nicest of ways! You are probably going through recruitment with some friends, as so many people do, but never let your friends decide which sorority is home for you. You will hear it a million times but your friends will definitely still be your friends even if you join different sisterhoods! And hey, if they aren't your friends anymore is that someone you really want to keep around anyway?
4. Open Your Heart.
Whether you know everyone in a room, or no one. Whether your friends love a sorority or not, always remember to keep your heart open. Each sisterhood has something unique about it. In order to see which one is home for you, your heart has to be completely open to whatever room you walk in. Don't get tied up in reputations or what the crowd is doing. The smallest moment spent in a room can touch your heart and leave an impact, and for that you have to go in with a heart wide open.
5. Follow Your Instinct.
No matter what you went in thinking, what your friends or doing, or even what you think you may want: you need to do what feels right. You know where you see yourself and for what reasons. All you have to do is be completely honest with yourself and follow your gut!
6. Pay Attention.
In order to truly understand which sorority feels like home, you have to pay attention. You have to take away the decorations, the pictures, and even the t-shirts in order to see a room for what is the most important part: the sisterhood. This word gets thrown around a lot, and for all the right reasons. You are going to be able to see a sisterhood for all it's worth in a room of women if you pay attention!
7. Take It All In.
Recruitment is such an exciting time in a woman's life. There are so many emotions, so many nerves, and more than enough butterflies. You have to take a step back sometimes and just take it all in. It only happens once, and before you know it you're going to be on the other side of recruitment stressing about so many other things.
8. Cry If You Want To.
I know, I know: "What do you mean emotions, I thought I was just talking to some girls." While that is true, sometimes being in a room can stir something deep within. It is okay to shed tears when they are brought up to you. It is okay to get emotional! It is important however, to think about why you are crying. Just because a room made you emotional, doesn't mean that is where your home is. It is also okay not to cry at all! Your emotions, no matter tears or lack thereof, are always welcome!
9. Be Completely Honest.
The girls you are talking to ultimately just want you to find your home. In order for us to help you do that, you have to be completely honest with us. Don't think you have to say you love our sisterhood if you don't. Don't be afraid to say you honestly don't see yourself as one of our members. I promise it will not hurt our feelings! It hurts more when you say you love us when you really don't! Be completely honest with all of us, but more importantly be completely honest with yourself!
10. Find Your Home.
Ah yes, this cliche. As corny as you may think that sounds, you will understand. I was told not too long ago the perfect way to figure out what to do. One sorority is going to be where you feel like a stranger's house. You will not feel like you belong there at all! Another sorority is going to feel like a friend's house. You are able to interact comfortably but you still have to ask to open the refrigerator and get a little snack. Finally, one sorority is going to feel like your home. This is where you could run around naked with no makeup on without fear of judgement. Only you will be able to tell which is which, but it will better help you find your home.
What you are feeling, everyone who has gone through recruitment has felt. The excitement, the nerves, and the complete and total anxiety. This week is going to fly by and before you know it, you will be running home to the sorority that is your home! No one can tel you how to go through this process but you! You know yourself the best so lean on that! There are so many more things I can say to you to help ease the nerves, but always remember to be completely and unapologetically you and it will all work itself out! When bid day rolls around, you will be so excited, you will never understand why you stressed to begin with. Here's to you finding your home and being apart of a sisterhood not just for 4 years, but for life! Happy Recruitment!
