Going Greek is easier said than done. I remember the moment I signed up for Fall Recruitment, my heart felt like it was going to pump out of my chest and explode! The feeling was a mixture of excitement, anticipation, and overall horror that even writing about it makes my palms sweat! The week prior, thoughts raced through my mind like “What if they don’t like me?” or “Will they reject me because of my outfit?”. I had this premeditated judgment of how sorority girls are and which boxes they needed to tick so I could make it through the next round. The stereotypes and packed schedules for the next week were drilled into my head up until the day had come. But sure enough, I am alive and well as a newly initiated member of Delta Delta Delta! And as we speak, Fall Formal recruitment is just around the corner and my previous worries are of the past. And even though the amount of horrors I conjured up in my head were longer than Santa’s Christmas list, I have five main reasons why you shouldn’t even think a second thought on the recruitment process.
1. The Ladies in the Sorority are probably more nervous than you!
Though this could be hard to believe, this is true almost 99.99% of the time! Imagine preparing for an event 3 MONTHS IN ADVANCE! Recruitment is one of the most important events for sororities because it is the future of their house! Potential New Members (PNMs) are vital to the success of the sororities and their ability to thrive. They have been trained for hours on end to talk to each and every member that walks through their doors. The closer the date is, the longer and stricter their regime gets! They want to do everything perfect in order to impress you (YES, YOU!) enough to consider their chapter! They are what you want and what they need!
2. They don’t expect perfect!
Each and every girl in that house has gone through the same exact process as you. They understand that everything isn’t going to go as planned and we all make mistakes! If anything, the little slip ups are a breath of fresh air with all the trained conversations they had planned for. Don’t forget, they’re just students at a college that want you to find the sisterhood that they have! You should love your sisters unconditionally, flaws and all! Being perfect is the last thing the girls in the house worry about in a PNM, therefore you shouldn’t either!
3. Stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason!
As much as I hate to admit it, I had my false judgments on how sorority girls would act around me. Would they judge me for what I am wearing or laugh at the way I walk? After becoming apart of the Greek Community, I realized that these are all just things that movies had implemented in my head. They aren’t mean girls who party 24/7 and pay for their friends! They are just people who wanted to find a deeper rooted community in the crazy world of college and learn what it means to be a Sorority Woman. Sororities are all about empowering women and bashing another girl down isn’t what the Greek Life stands for.
4. Looks aren’t everything!
When we think sorority girl, we typically think of your All-American girl with the best accessories and long flowing hair. With this mindset, it’s easy to assume that’s how you should look during recruitment, right? While you should try to look like your best self at recruitment, don’t assume they want you to fit a certain mold. It’s cliche, but everyone is beautiful in their own way and the last thing you would want to project is a false idea of who you truly are! Looks are one of the last thing they are looking for in a sister. Being genuine of who you are and what you stand for is something that can outshine any cute outfit.
5. Your home is there, even if you don’t know it!
Always remember, the process is there for a reason. Formal recruitment isn’t a way to weed out the bad from the good, it’s the process of finding you the home where you belong. Recruitment is here to welcome you with open arms and words of encouragement. College is a scary place where everyone is trying to find themselves, but with the help of a couple of a life long sisters it gets a little easier. Your sisters are waiting for you, now here’s your chance to go find them!