Of course, the holidays are always a stressful time. As a college student, I’ve learned that this gets even worse, because now, you only have two to three weeks to see your friends, catch up with family, and mentally prepare yourself for the next semester. When you top everything off with the fact that you’re rushing in the spring, it can get a little overwhelming.
1. Your weight: as a girl, it is only normal to stress about your weight. The physical expectations for us are high, and honestly, sometimes impossible to achieve. I usually think rationally about my weight; however, with the weeks leading up to rush, logic has gone straight out the window. All I can think about is dieting, working out, and losing the extra pounds I may have gained during the holiday season, which is kind of ridiculous.
2. What to wear: Clothes also contribute to pre-rush anxiety. Girls across the nation are ripping apart their closets, pulling out their favorite shirts, sweaters, and jeans, and still declaring that they have nothing to wear. I do this too, and then I want to go shopping, revamp my wardrobe, and buy new clothes, but my mom just isn’t having it.
3. Your hair: I might be the only girl who doesn’t know how to curl my hair. My friends also make fun of me because I don’t even straighten my hair the right way. Apparently, you have to section it off and then straighten it in parts, but who has time for that? If you’re like me, and completely hopeless in that department, you may be stressing out hardcore and questioning your styling abilities. Are there even enough hours in the day to learn how to make my hair look amazing? Maybe I’ll just watch a YouTube video or two, on hair tutorials. Ugh, I know, it can feel hopeless.
4. Your make-up: I’m not completely helpless in this department, but I’m definitely no makeup artist. I don’t know all the tricks to really make my best features pop. I have no idea how to contour or highlight my face; I never learned and don’t even know where to start.
5. Your self-confidence: During rush, you should put your best foot forward. Yes, appearance does matter, but your mental state matters more. Don't stress out too much; be your own best friend. After all, you are your worst enemy. Try to ignore your feelings of self-doubt and apprehension, smile and hope for the best. However, that’s easier said than done.
6. What to say / how to act: Everyone who has gone through rush has most likely advised you to always be yourself. That’s pretty standard advice, although, when you think about it, what exactly does this mean? How much of yourself should you really be? You don’t want to be too comfortable while rushing. You don’t want to show your weird side just yet, but you also don’t want to be boring. Finding a balance, while also staying true to yourself, can be a challenge! As they say, first impressions are everything.
7. Finding the right match: In the end, we are all looking to find a sorority that we feel comfortable in. We want to form long-lasting bonds with girls who are similar to us and be able to call them “our sisters.”
If any of these things are relatable to you, just remember that you aren’t crazy and you aren’t alone in the way you’re feeling! Of course, you want to feel your best before rushing, but you don’t need to set yourself to unrealistic standards. Throughout the process, remember to breathe and believe that everything will work out the way it is meant to, whether you find your perfect house or not.
