| carynie13 |
05-25-2010 05:38 PM |
Sorry to keep everyone waiting. I've been busy trying to find a summer job! Anyway, Preference Day arrived on a pretty, sunny Friday. However, my badly blistered feet needed some serious bandages, especially since I would have to bear the burden of heels this day. I put on one of my favorite dresses and hobbled along to the auditorium.
Although there were still hundreds of girls that day, it was clear that many girls, including several from my group had dropped from recruitment. It seemed like the PHA speakers talked twice as long today as any other day, but that was probably just a result of my nerves, which had been ever-increasing throughout the week.
Then, it was time for those little slips of paper to be passed out. It was so stressful and when I finally received mine I saw... Pine and Dogwood. I did not have a full schedule. I felt my face get very hot and my eyes well up with tears. All four other houses, including my beloved Redwood and the amazing Ginkgo, had cut me. My heart sank, but I knew the two chapters I did have were amazing, so I quickly pulled myself together and headed off to my last socials of the week.
Pine: When the members began walking out, I noticed I was wearing the same color dress, which made me feel slightly awkward. However, when I was picked up by the member I had talked to the previous day, my nerves began to settle. Only for a few seconds, as I tripped over a dip in the sidewalk, in front of several other PNMs, members, and Pi Chis. I was so embarrassed as I quickly grabbed my clutch, but another member in front reassured me that she had done the same thing earlier in the week. After, calming myself from that ordeal, we went into the house and sat to talk to the member. We were served a drink that I thought to be a non-alcoholic Pina Colada, though I never took a sip, as I feared the worst of getting the whipped cream all over my face. She and I talked about why she chose this chapter and in fact, she had the same choice to make on Preference Day. She explained that she just felt more connected to Pine than she had at Dogwood. Then, we were taken downstairs for a very touching ceremony, that made me really think about becoming a member of Pine. I left here without a wink for the first time the whole week, but knew I could see myself being a member.
Dogwood: After a break in my short schedule, I found myself outside waiting in line outside of Dogwood. The walkout began, and we were surprised to see the members wearing an outfit much different than the traditional black or white dress worn on pref day. This impressed me right away, and though I was usually one of the last people to be picked up outside, this day I was one of the first when my friend greeted me. I was so excited to have someone who I could talk to comfortably, especially on this stressful day. We had a great, relaxed conversation before the ceremony and were offered these really great fruity drinks. I was very thirsty, so it was quickly drank and the ceremony began. It was so touching and actually brought tears to my eyes. One of the seniors mentioned her random roommate freshman year, who became her sorority sister and best friend. This really hit home for me, as my random roommate was also attending Dogwood that day. My friend explained why she loved Dogwood so much, as she had come to college without her close friends, much like I had. When I told her it was my last social of the day, she asked if I knew what I was going to do. I said yes with a smile and although I realized my bandaids were falling out of my heels as I left, my embarrassment was outweighed with my happiness.
I quickly went to change into more comfortable clothes and left to go preference. For once during the week, I did not have to wait in a huge line and actually spoke with my Pi Chi who had witnessed my stumble at Pine. She was such a sweetheart and really settled my nerves. I signed the necessary papers as I preferenced 1. Dogwood 2. Pine.
The next twenty-four hours were very overwhelming as I waited for a knock on my door or a ring on my cellphone from my Pi Chis letting me know I'd been released from recruitment. I was so overwhelmed from the entire week and knew it wouldn't be over until I had a bid (if I received one at all) in my hands. This was the most restless night, by far of the long week.
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