With recruitment right around the corner, PNMs everywhere are thinking and wondering every day where they will run home to on bid day in just over a month.

I know what you're thinking, here comes another boring article about why Greek life is #cool #srat #throwwhatyouknow am I right?

I mean sure, throw what you know all you want, but if you continue reading you may find that that is not the case with this article. In fact, please keep reading. You will thank yourself later, trust me.

There's so many aspects of our life which we can look back in regret thinking "if only we knew." Maybe obsessively covering our agenda pads in 5 gum wrappers wasn't as cool as we thought? Maybe bottom eye liner really wasn't for everyone? Maybe my mom was right when she said I paid too much for a shirt with a moose logo on it?

So maybe people really are right when they say you'll thank yourself after going through recruitment. Maybe they're right when they say you'll find your best friends forever. Maybe they're right when they say that everyone finds their home.

About a week ago, me and some of my sisters were texting in a group message which naturally lead to a plethora of ugly selfies, terrible throwback photos and laughing so hard our abs hurt. Naturally, this blackmail was extended into our pledge class GroupMe to share with the rest of our sisters. This was not the first time this happened by any means, but for some reason a few things registered with me more than they had before.

One of these being that we were all absolutely tragic looking teenagers, and another one being the level of appreciation I have for these people. The people I did not know even existed just less than one year ago.

Rushing as a sophomore, I was nervous I wouldn't find my fit or my people. But I'm happy to say I've found both.

Real people, with real dreams, real accomplishments, and real hearts.

With the help of my pledge class we've compiled a few pieces of pre recruitment advice we thought we would share.....along with a few other gems to ease the nerves of rushing in a few weeks.

" I wish I knew that cat ears weren't "edgy". I wish I knew that we're not all diamonds, crowns or pink, we're not all the sorority stereotypes. We're the girls that have fun, travel, and pursue really amazing things. I've met chemical engineering majors, girls now in law school, the president of the skydiving club, and Miss Columbia. We break the stereotypes and expectations of "sorority girls." I've met the coolest, most down to earth girls in my short time as a part of Greek life. They've traveled the globe, and dressed up as pizza for halloween." - Jessica Harris

"I wish I knew that the stereotypes weren't real, and that you don't have to put on a front to fit in. I wish I knew that my sorority would be full of radiant personalities who are willing to visit you, even when you're 28 hours away from home. Post-rush, I now know that these girls are genuine people who, like me, are figuring out this thing we call life. These girls enrich my life on a daily basis, and they've become a part of me in their own way. trust your gut, and trust the system. you'll find your forever home." -Grayson Gaines

"What I wish I knew before recruitment is that everything happens for a reason. You might not get your top choice or even your top three choices. You might get the sorority you wanted since you first stepped in the doors and it felt like home. No matter what happens, it happened for a reason. No matter what sorority you end up in you will meet your best friends, soul mates & future bridesmaids.Go in with a positive mind and attitude. It all works out!" -Alyssa Winderlich

"I wish I knew that I would find 500 sisters who love to eat just as much as I do." - Francesca Stuart

"I wish I knew that cutting your own cross bangs at 13 will not magically make you look like the character from your favorite tv show. I wish I knew that you needed to trust the system. Everything works out the way it''s supposed to." -Shaina Harrington


"What I wish I knew before recruitment is that it isn't as intimidating as it seems! You'll have some great conversations all around Greek Village, but you'll also have a moment when you just KNOW where you belong. For me, it was when a complete stranger had me in tears laughing about my love for Shark Week and cupcakes. The recruitment process allows YOU to decide where you feel the most comfortable, and will you give you a home not only for the next four years, but for a lifetime." -Megan Scharner


" I wish I knew that alternating red and green brace elastic colors for Christmas was NOT cute and that posing with pretzels in NYC doesn't make you any less awkward. In fact, it may make you more awkward. I also wish I knew that during recruitment I would find my people, who may have in fact also alternated their brace elastic colors and posed with pretzels. I wish I knew that I would find a pledge class so great that they didn't even think twice when I asked them to submit a picture for this article." - Eliza Lynch


"What I wish I knew before recruitment is to trust the system but more importantly, trust myself. Recruitment was such an exciting and overwhelming part of joining Greek life, and I met so many amazing girls in every single sorority. I had awesome conversations and real connections. Deciding where I wanted to be was tough, but in the end, I had to trust myself. I found my home with the girls I knew would love and accept me in my Nike shorts, homeless hair, and oversize tshirts. I found girls who shared my love for pizza and queso and anything sweet. These girls have challenged me to love myself in spite of my insecurities. I wish I knew that when I went through recruitment, I would find girls that love me for me, flaws and all. " - Kendall Brogdon


" I wish i knew how many best friends my sorority was going to bring me." -Regan Serwat


"What I wish I knew before recruitment was to trust the system and relax because no matter where you end up, chances are these girls are not only going to be your sisters but best friends for life." -Haleigh Dixon

But we turned out alright, huh?

I wish I knew that when people said friends for a lifetime, they weren't kidding.