[spirited*pnm]

So I've been lurking for awhile, reading the always-entertaining recruitment threads, and obviously since it's the summer they've died down a bit. So I decided to tell mine so you "addicts" can get your fix! This is a "retro" thread-- I was a PNM in 2005, but I remember many details of my experience, and can't wait to share them with you!

First, a little background...I grew up in the South, and both of my lovely parents attended an SEC school for undergrad and grad, and were both members of the Greek system (they didn’t know each other in college, they met way later!). Every fall since I can remember (probably 2 years old was the earliest they’d let me go), my family and I have been going to the home football games of my parents’ beloved alma mater. Every Saturday home game of every fall we’d spend cheering on our favorite team (I don’t want to give too much away!).

After nearly every game, I asked if we could take a drive by/walk around the fraternities and sororities. I picked my mom’s brain about her “rush” process and all her stories, imploring her to remember all the details! I have an amazing mother: she was secretary of her pledge class, philanthropic chair, Treasurer of Panhellenic, and VP of her chapter senior year! Needless to say, I was raised on the idea that being a member of a GLO was a significant and worthwhile (and indispensable!) part of college. I could sing the Greek alphabet, I knew which of my mom’s adult friends where in which houses, how she and her room mate/best friend ended up at different houses that were on different streets but shared a backyard…I even wore my mom’s old “jersey” (complete with stains and holes haha) with her letters on it as a pajama shirt!

Throughout my childhood/teens years I assumed that I too would attend this school. However, I ended up at a very cold, northern school (!!!) with a strong Greek system (thank goodness!). I was probably one of the first PNMs to register for recruitment. To my surprise, recs were not required, nor even “not required but strongly suggested” at this school! Additionally, there were a few chapters on this campus that I was not as familiar with (less of a presence in the SEC), so I was excited to see what they were all about! After checking on the Panhel website (before I even got to campus in the fall), to my and mother’s delight, her GLO had a chapter at my future school—there was still a chance I could be my mom’s “sister” after all!

At my school (now my alma mater, I graduated in May! Ahh!), there is deferred recruitment. The year I went through, there was a blizzard and the wind chill factor was in the negative teens (!!!). I was thoroughly unprepared for a northern, winter recruitment! That week I sincerely was jealous of my already-Greek friends down south who had rushed in the suffocating, oppressive heat in the fall! Without further ado, these are the chapters at my school:

Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Epsilon Phi
Alpha Omicron Pi
Alpha Phi
Alpha Xi Delta
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Gamma
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Delta
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Pi Beta Phi
Sigma Delta Tau

I am thinking of doing Care Bears for code names, because I grew up with them, love them, and I really think the qualities they all represent really vibe with the spirit of being Greek!

The next installment will be coming soon! I just need to take a trip down memory lane and remember some details!