In 2021, TikTok made #BamaRush a nationwide sensation. The internet was consumed by the popular OOTD’s that potential new members (PNMs) would post, showing off their trendy closets from places like the Pants Store, LoveShackFancy, and other boutiques.
I also bought into the hype of Bama Rush and loved seeing what the girls wore each day. At the time, I had no idea that I would attend The University of Alabama and go through recruitment the very next year. My senior year self could not wrap her head around the idea of rush. I did not know what it entailed, and in all honesty, I did not want to know.
Fast forward to January 2022, and there I am, beginning to prep for Rush Week 2022 at The University of Alabama. I watched countless videos about what the rush process would look like, what I needed to do beforehand, and how to survive the infamous Bama Rush process. I scrambled to line up recommendation letters and made sure my resume was in tip-top shape.
As summer of 2022 rolled around, whispers of Bama Rush Tok’s return began. People were excited to see “Season 2” of Bama Rush, and even called the PNMS “new characters.” So many rumors began circulating on the internet about this year’s rush that I began experiencing a whole new way of anxiety. So, when the first day of rush finally arrived, I was a nervous wreck.
My fears quickly subsided, however, when I stepped into my first house on the second day of rush, which is day 1 of Philanthropy Round. During this round, which spans three days, PNMs get the opportunity to learn about each sorority’s philanthropic organizations and events. Talking to the active members in each sorority was not nearly as scary as I had imagined it in my head. They were all genuine, kind, and so excited to talk about their experiences with their organization’s philanthropy. I had a fantastic time throughout these three days.
I continued to fall in love with the rush process and the different houses as we went through the next round, Sisterhood, which also lasts three days. I got to see what life would be like in each sorority, and how the girls uplift and encourage each other.
Finally, the last round which lasts only one day, Preference Round, began. This is the day when PNMs decided where they want to “run home” to on bid day. Each ceremony is unique, and it is widely known to be the most serious round. I even shed a few tears (okay… maybe more than a few) and was so excited to run home the next day.
Bid day was a blur. It was emotional and exhausting, and I wish I could do it all over again. All this being said, I cannot recommend rushing enough. It allowed me to find my home and meet girls that will be life-long friends. Rush is a process, and even though it’s cheesy to say, you must trust that process. You will end up where you are meant to be. There are highs and lows during everyone’s rush week. I was disappointed sometimes, but something truly amazing came out of that disappointment.
Rush week was not perfect, and it isn’t for any girl who decides to go through the process. However, it is not the big, scary production that many people think it is. I can honestly say that rush helped me grow as a woman. It made me more resilient, wiser, and helped me be more decisive. I will be forever thankful that I went through formal Recruitment here at the University of Alabama, and I am so grateful for the sisterhood I now have.