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A Very Barista Retro Recruitment
Hey guys! I'm a lurker on here but have posted on a few threads with my GLO so I've created a new username, as I'd like this retro 2008-2009 thread to be anonymous. And yes, I'm real, unlike the various Philly threads that have been around recently. I attend a reasonably competitive university, but that's all you're going to get out of me as to where I go :D, if you'd like to guess, PM me. My thread is going to be named after Starbucks drinks, with each of the 19 NPC sororities getting their own drink! They are (in no particular order):
Cafe au Lait Iced Coffee Marble Mocha Macchiato Iced Caramel Macchiato Pumpkin Spice Latte Caramel Frappucino Java Chip Frappucino Toffee Mocha Chip Frappucino Peppermint Mocha Twist Mint Mocha Chip Frappucino Hot Chocolate Hot Apple Cider Orange Mango Banana Vivanno Cinnamon Dolce Latte Skinny Latte Cafe Americano Passion Iced Tea I'll post the first chunk of my recruitment story tomorrow evening, so stay tuned if you're interested! |
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Go Caramel Frap! And cute username! |
Hmmmm I'm going to have to go with either pumpkin spice or apple cider =)
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I'm counting only 17 drink names.
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I'm just wondering how an 08-09 recruitment get classified as "retro."
But, carry on. I know I will enjoy it either way! :) |
Can we make a deal seasoned GCers: let the story play out. Even if any of us want to call shannanigans -- lets see where the gcer ends up and then verify!
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Go apple cider!
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Iced Caramel Macchiato Java Chip Frappucino Toffee Mocha Chip Frappucino Peppermint Mocha Twist Mint Mocha Chip Frappucino These all sound yummy...lol! Do they even make a toffee mocha chip frap? I have never heard of it but it sounds great! |
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But I swear if this thread dips so much into the state of Pennsylvania... |
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Sorry guys for forgetting two drinks, I forgot Chai Latte and Apple Spice! Summer has made me a bit absentminded, I must confess. I also called it ‘retro’ because I didn’t want anyone to think I was starting a recruitment story early. And no, no Pennsylvania :]
I woke up the morning of recruitment super early to find…SNOW! I’m talking hardcore snow and freezing cold temperatures. I did my hair, donned my Uggs, jeans, underarmor, standard recruitment shirt, and heaviest coat I could find (my winter coat had coffee spilled on it by someone at Starbucks the day before!), donned a scarf and one of those hats with the earflaps and headed out the door to meet my rho gamma. She gave us our first day’s schedule and we left to our respective destinations. My first chapter was…Peppermint Mocha Twist Frapp! Peppermint Mocha Twist: The rho gammas called roll outside as we were waiting and waiting out in the snow, definitely freezing. All the girls around me seemed to know what was going to happen, and I felt more than a little intimidated. Then, up and down the street, we heard the countdown…5…4…3..2..1….and then the beating on the windows and doors began at the first chapter! I was startled because I had no idea what to expect, one of the girls actually broke a portion of the window during the cheer. The doors flew open and the sisters welcomed us in and led me to the dining room. I remember the first active I talked to was an event planning major, which didn’t click with my science interest. I didn’t really have much in common, and there were a lot of awkward silences. I got bumped to another girl who wanted to plan parties for In Style magazine, and we talked about celebrities, but I didn’t really feel a connection outside of 'ohmygod, don't you think Gossip Girl is the best show ever?'. Next, I went on a house tour, part of which went back outside in the snow without a coat (not cool!), and I felt more and more awkward talking with the girl. After we left, I really questioned whether this whole sorority thing was what I was hoping for. Mint Mocha Chip: When the chanting started at this house, I’d hoped that things were going to feel more like home to me…and boy they did. I clicked with the girl showing me around the house, and after sitting down with her, we both realized we had a love for a certain football team and a slight sports addiction. I also loved the next girl I talked to, we had the same quirky way for remembering things, oddly enough. I talked to a third girl, and we had good conversation, but I don’t really remember much about her. I thought the house was gorgeous and very homey, plus it just plain smelled good, and left thinking that maybe this whole recruitment thing wasn’t so bad Hot Chocolate: This chapter had a reputation for being one of the top choices for girls on their lists, everyone was excited to go inside. However, my first thought on walking inside was the décor of their house (however, this would be upstaged by the next chapter) and how retro it was…I felt almost as if I were walking into the 70s. I don’t remember much else of their house, and I definitely didn’t click with the girls. They were much like the first chapter, standard major/year/hometown/activities questions, and most seemed distracted. They all looked roughly the same as well, and I thought that was a little weird. I knew I wouldn’t rank them high on my list after I’d left, and people were shocked about that when we discussed our experiences outside. It was almost like I was expected to love them. Apple Spice: Next door was Apple Spice, a chapter I didn’t really know much about going into it. The décor in this house was so distracting…shag carpeting and wood panels straight out of the 70s! Not my thing, but I wasn’t here to judge decorations after all. The girls I talked to didn’t seem to hold good conversation, and the first girl I talked to used the word ‘awesome’ at least 7 times. I didn’t get a good vibe from this house. One more, then time to warm back up at lunch! Orange Mango Banana Vivanno: I knew someone in this chapter, and I’d heard good things about the girls, so I was anxious to go inside. Their house was neat and tidy and nice, which was an improvement from the 70s throwbacks I’d been in recently. I talked to an education major who tried to convince me to become a teacher, which made me feel rather odd, but the next girl I talked to was in nursing, and we’d had some of the same classes. We discussed professors, post-graduate plans, and other things, and I was bumped to someone that I quite frankly do not remember talking to! I left feeling okay about the house, but not stellar. Before lunch, my rankings were: Mint Mocha Chip Orange Mango Banana Apple Spice Hot Chocolate Peppermint Mocha Twist After lunch comes tomorrow! |
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Just to clarify - I definitely was not insinuating this thread is anywhere near a shennanigans classification. I was just asking for the "retro" definition to be clarified. In my mind, retro is old school, back in the day, 1970's, 1980's, etc. not last fall! :)
Back to the caffeine et al... |
The only thing I'll drink from Starbucks is their Caramel Apple Cider.. but it didn't make the list. So I'll root for two chapters... Caramel Frappucino and Hot Apple Cider :D
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After the teaser of actual warmth that was lunch, we were sent back out into the cold for the rest of our first day’s houses
Cinnamon Dolce Latte: I went on my house tour first at this chapter, and their house was gorgeous! I loved the dark hardwood floors and the way the house was laid out, it felt dressy yet very homey. The first person I talked to discussed the brutal weather with us, and how she wanted to offer all of us a hairdryer because we looked so icky! I was hoping she wasn’t referring to me…The second girl I talked to commented on the ring I was wearing and my nails, and if I were in the house I’d be the girl everyone came to for formal pedicures. I got bumped to a third girl RIGHT before we had to leave, but fell in love with this house. The girls seemed so genuine and classy. Hot Apple Cider: Coming into recruitment, I hadn’t heard many positive things about this chapter, and waiting outside, I didn’t hear anything new. However, I was definitely going to give this chapter a chance and see what happened. We weren’t given a house tour, which I found strange, and I was triple rushed (although not for lack of active members, many stood around waiting to bump other actives), which was awkward to me. There were many awkward pauses with me and the three girls we spoke to…who all seemed to be the same. I definitely did not like this house. Cafe Americano: By this point, the sun had started setting and the cold was definitely taking its toll. I got inside this chapter and immediately started the house tour. Their house was decorated with so much memorabilia from their philanthropy, which was known campus wide, and showed their dedication! These girls loved their philanthropy, which I really liked. We talked to the girls inside individual rooms, which made it seem more personal. I talked to two juniors and seniors from the chapter, who really were able to reflect on what made them pick Café Americano, and that was something I liked hearing. This house was going to be in the top 10 on my list Café au Lait: Waiting outside my second to last house was PURE TORTURE because of how cold it was, at this point. I’ve never wanted to take a hot bath more in my life, haha. We went on our house tour first in this house as well, and the house was tastefully decorated and cute, but the setup was a little strange. I had known a girl from this chapter in high school, but I didn’t see her or interact with her at all. I sat on the floor with an active, and although they were nice, I didn’t really have anything in common with them. Oddly enough, all of the girls I spoke to were from the same area and high school. I wasn’t sure I wanted to live with a bunch of girls who were living out a perpetual high school reunion, but they were likely going to make my cut. Skinny Latte: This house had a tent outside while we were waiting, which all of us crammed into and were so happy about. Upon entering, we learned the name of the active who was going to give us the house tour, however, they sat us in a room while the actives made a circle around us. The president welcomed us to Skinny Latte and gave us some basics and the girls jumped around and cheered like crazy, which was definitely really intimidating. Their house was also really nice and had a beachy feel, which I loved. The first active I talked to was their intramural chair, and I’m heavy into sports so we had a ton in common. She discussed their philanthropy, which I’d actually participated in the previous year, and I definitely wanted to get involved with it. The second active I talked to was completely different, a total girly-girl, and yet we still had things in common. I was really happy with how well rounded this house was and how diverse the girls are, and knew they would be high at the conclusion of day 1 After day 1 of recruitment, my rankings were: Mint Mocha Chip Frappucino Cinnamon Dolce Latte Skinny Latte Café Americano Café au Lait Orange Mango Banana Vivanno Apple Spice Hot Chocolate Peppermint Mocha Twist Hot Apple Cider And yes, we visited 10 chapters in one day! So exhausting, but I was ready for day 2 (and hoping it wouldn't snow again) |
If I get anything besides plain old iced coffee or iced Chai tea, it's a Cinnamon Dolce Latte!
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aw this is such a great story! Continue:D
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Sorry it took so long, I’ve been working like crazy and been busy! But I do really want to finish, especially because my story has a different type of happy ending :] Time for the start of day 2!
Chai Latte: Going into recruitment, this was the house I thought I was destined to be a part of. I was so excited to meet the girls and to take the tour, and was even more happy it was my first house of the day so that I wouldn’t look like I’d spent 10 hours out in the freezing cold. Their physical house was smaller than most but had a prime location, and loved the way it looked inside and out. The girls I talked to were super sweet and so classy, and I loved the way they all wore heels and pearls with their standard recruitment wear. I really hoped I got invited back to Chai Latte Iced Coffee: This house was known for having a stellar reputation and a gorgeous house. After walking in and taking their house tour, I sat down in their solarium with a really sweet girl who had taken a few of the same classes as me and we discussed some of the professors and crazy hard exams! The next girl sat down and talked about my summer job with me and our favorite authors, which was a total change from some chapters. I don’t remember much about the third girl, but I was excited about this house. After leaving though, a lot of girls said that this chapter was fake to girls so that they would put them in their top 12, so I was unsure if the girls were really being genuine. Marble Mocha Macchiato: I knew a girl from my lab in this chapter, so I was hoping to see her. Lo and behold, when I walked in the door, she grabbed my arm and gave me a huge hug! It definitely boosted my confidence going into the house tour. Their house reminded me of houses in Boston, very classically decorated, but gorgeous. One of the actives I was paired with was my friend’s older sister, so that was awesome. I remember the actives switched out really quickly, which made it hard to sustain any solid conversation, but other PNMs said the exact same thing so I wasn’t worried. I liked this chapter, but knew I wasn’t likely to be invited back. Iced Caramel Macchiato: I didn’t know much about this chapter other than they had a reputation for being blondes, but after going on the tour, I didn’t get that impression from the chapter. I talked to one active and we randomly talked about celebrity encounters, including mine with athletes and hers with a famous area QB, as well as another active who randomly had Shia LeBouf’s number in her cell phone. The next active I talked to we discussed Jon and Kate Plus 8, and I really got along well with the sisters. I knew this chapter was going to be high on my list, but did not necessarily think I would be invited back. Pumpkin Spice Latte: This chapter provided enough stories to last for the rest of my recruitment. After walking in the door, we were taken to their living room, where actives surrounded us yelling and jumping on the couches. One of the actives put her foot through the sofa and sisters had to sort of pull her out. After this, we were joined with our respective actives for conversations. The first girl I talked to, we discussed shoes and purses, and she asked me, completely out of the blue, how I store my shoes, because she apparently throws them in a tub and breaks heels and can’t find the matching shoes. I was a little startled but answered with a shoe rack. The next active I talked to asked me my major and what I wanted to do for my life, and she replied with ‘I hate to say this…but I’m too stupid to do that.’ After Pumpkin Spice, it was time for lunch! |
i used to be a HUGE caramen macchiato drinker, but has gotten too sweet for my liking. I was rooting for Cafe Americano before i started reading, followed by Passion iced tea (i make it at home for myself!)
and there are still more houses, yes? |
.....where actives surrounded us yelling and jumping on the couches.....
:D Wow - you mean like Tom Cruise did on Oprah? |
This could be a complete thread derail - but I am confused about the houses in a lot of these stories. On my campus - all the houses were designed exactly the same way. Same number of rooms, a few changes in the lay-outs (some with double staircases, some with single), and the chapters got to decorate the houses. I've been on other campuses where the sororities have houses and while they are structurally a little different (some designed in the 70s and some newer) but they don't vary that much.
I've noticed in many of these stories that alot of emphasis is put on what the house looks like, the age of the house, how its laid out, etc. and it seems like "house tours" are more about the PNM approving of the house and less of a recruitment party. What I think I'm trying to ask (no coffee yet today!) is: is the way a house is laid out or decorated a deal breaker for PNMs? And actives jumping on couches? :confused: |
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I agree with drgnlady-- I think it is a huge factor, especially if members are required to live-in at some point. I think the decor can really set the mood, and if you don't feel comfortable or "at home" then it can be a deal breaker.
I don't think the influence of a house's decor or layout or vibe can be underestimated, because while you live-in, it's your home in which you spend a considerable amount of time. Quote:
Layout--Sleeping porches/dormers or rooms? Any singles? Mostly doubles? Triples? How are rooms and room mates selected? In the end, it may matter immensely to some people and it may not matter at all to others. Stellar connections with sisters in a house may overcome a less desirable decor or layout. |
Yes, there are MORE houses :]
But yeah, the physical house itself is a big deal at my university, they all look different, have a different layout, different room sizes and layouts, etc. All of them are physically massive. I'd have to say there were only 2 chapter that the house itself actually turned me off, and it's because both were stuck in the 70s (one had green shag carpet!) Actives jumping on couches...ala Tom Cruise/Oprah..yes! The president was 'welcoming' us to that chapter, and everytime she said the name the actives would start screaming and jumping up and down on couches and the floor and tables, it was rather intimidating if you ask me. I mean one girl literally went THROUGH a sofa (embarassing for her). |
Back from vacation :)
It was after lunch on Day 2, and I was getting exhausted and ready for these parties to be over. Caramel Frappucino: Going into rush, if I wasn't going to be a Chai Latte, I was going to be a CF. This house was known for being super smart AND fun, and I felt like I could fit in there. Their song as they opened the doors was so catchy (I still sing it to this day!) and cute, and I loved the way you could see the staircase through the windows. Their house was gorgeous and all the girls I talked to seemed so classy, what I thought a sorority girl would be like. Although the way they had the chairs set up was a little strange, I was facing a wall (which the active sat up against) Passion Iced Tea: Standing outside this house was torture, if only because of the girls gossipping about it: the chapter was small, a fraternity was buying its house, it was only for losers, etc. I tried not to pay attention, but it was hard, obviously. They let us into the house early, which was really strange compared to most houses, but we were all happy for the warmth. After they did their cheer, we were taken on a house tour and then down into the dining room to talk to actives...where I was triple rushed, by an alum no less! It was sad how small the chapter was, and a lot of girls purposely were untalkative at this chapter so they wouldn't get invited back. I left this house knowing I wouldn't rank it last, but it was nowhere near my favorite. Java Chip Frapp: This house was known for being HUGE in terms of members, and it didn't disappoint. I loved their chant (still know this one too!), and their house was adorable. During their house tour though, we all got clogged up in a stairwell and I spent half the tour talking to an active which I didnt' exactly click with. It was definitely awkward. We talked in the girls' rooms like at Caffe Americano, which I liked. I joked around with the girl I was talking to about my lack of swimming abilities and other things, but didn't feel a click with this house. On the plus side, it had a catwalk/balcony on the second floor! Toffee Mocha Chip Frapp: FINALLY, my last house! This house definitely looked very southern from the outside, but super cute. Their house was very modern on the inside, with gorgeous hardwood floors and just so grown up. The girl giving my house tour recognized my hometown as being that of another active (which I didn't even know!) and so we started talking about that active, and it went by quickly. We also talked in the girls' rooms, which were decorated in their colors and with so much TMCF gear. The next girl I talked to I really clicked with, we discussed musicals and other random stuff, and I felt like I had known her for ages. The last girl I talked to, we realized we'd played each other in a soccer game once, and the time went by so quickly! This house was going to be high I realized how tough my final rankings were going to be, but after day 2, they were: Mint Mocha Chip Frapp Chai Latte Iced Caramel Macchiato Toffee Mocha Chip Frapp Cinnamon Dolce Latte Caramel Frapp Skinny Latte Iced Coffee Café Americano Marble Mocha Macchiato Café au Lait Java Chip Frapp Pumpkin Spice Latte Orange Mango Banana Vivanno Apple Spice Hot Chocolate Peppermint Mocha Twist Passion Iced Tea Hot Apple Cider Oh PS--at the end of the story, I'll reveal where I ended up (and my real GC username), and if anyone wants to know the code, you can PM me. I don't feel I've revealed anything anyone who's guessed what school I'm from didn't already know |
This has got to be the longest story ever lol...I wanna know where you pledged already! :p
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Haha sorry, our first round of parties is over 2 days (trust me, it took FOREVER but there's no way with 19 chapters to do it in one day) so I tried to space it out the best I could. Plus I just got back from vacation so I'll be posting again tomorrow :)
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Alright guys, two parts left of my story...I wasn't trying to make it super long, just didn't want to do 19 chapters in one day, quite frankly haha. Also a week long vacation didn't help much, combined with a couple 40 hour work weeks. Sorry!
We have deferred recruitment, so I was forced to wait to find out what houses I got back for second invite. I felt like I was outgoing and sociable, and as cute as one can be when it's 25 degrees and snowing out. We came back early from winter break, met with our rho gams the night before (ours bought us a cookie cake!), and tried to sleep before we got our lists for second invite. The next morning arrived quicker than ever, and I got ready, donned my uggs, grabbed my heels, and left. We met our rho gam and I got my list....with only 2 chapters on it. I was about ready to start crying at that point, but one of the two chapters left was a favorite of mine, so I was still in the running. I hadn't felt anything when I was at the second chapter, but I wanted to go to their party and give them a chance. Rounds started early and my first party wasn't until 1, so I went back to my room to catch some more sleep Toffee Mocha Chip Frapp: We got to wait inside at this house, and while inside, all the girls were talking about how this house accidentally invited back too many girls, and I was definitely scared. Was I not supposed to get invited back? I got in line with everyone else and walked in, and we were introduced to our active sister and seated for the skit. While waiting for the skit to start, the PNM who was being double rushed with me said that she had a full slate of parties and wasn't interested in Toffee Mocha Chip, so she would let me talk as much as I wanted and make me look good. I was definitely happy about that after hearing about some other girls' double rush stories. This chapter had an adorable Wizard of Oz themed skit, and I loved it! I definitely was feeling positive about this chapter, the girls seemed very genuine. We were taken upstairs to talk to the sisters, and I didn't really click all that much with the first girl I talked to. She seemed rather apathetic and wasn't very enthusiastic about making conversation, despite my and the other PNMs attempts. Also, she took part in the skit as Glinda...so she was wearign a poofy prom dress, haha. The other two girls I talked to were much more talkative and I felt that same click with this chapter that I felt during the first round of parties. I was hopefully they'd invite me back My next party wasn't until 10:30 that night, so back to my room to hang out until then Passion Iced Tea: The gossip outside of this chapter was brutal again, as girls were tired from having parties all day, and most of them did not want to be at Passion. I was excited to be there though, as I knew that they wanted me back, so I figured I'd give it a shot. We were triple rushed here again, but this time it was by an active sister rather than an alum. Their skit was Passion through the decades, and it was cute, but nowhere near the level of Toffee Mocha Chip. It seemed like they didn't put as much effort into it, either decorating or coming up with the script and ideas. The other two girls that were rushed with me were flat out rude because they did not want to be there. I tried to keep an open mind and was very friendly towards the active, talkative, interested, etc. but did not feel like this was mean to to be my home. I went to bed that night hoping that I still had Toffee Mocha Chip on my list the next morning |
I have a feeling I know who you are...but I'm not sure. :)
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Holy Crap. From 19 to 2? That's pretty extreme.
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^^^ That's what I was thinking. That's severe. My motivation would be caputs (at least temporarily) by such heavy cuts
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Yeah, it was not a good feeling at all. I was ready for heavy cuts, but not that heavy. However, I wasn't the only person in that boat...there were a number of us who were down to 2 or 3. What really sucked was meeting girls at lunch who had a full 12 parties, or 10+ parties.
That was one thing I didn't like about some of the girls in my rush group. A lot of the girls who had 10/11/12 parties acted like they were better than the girls that got like 3 or 4 chapters back. One girl was the sweetest thing ever, even though she had a full 12, she made sure to ask all of us who only had a couple how those chapters went, and if we were having fun, etc. She's now a KD :) |
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I def figured out where you go to school..which never happens for me lol. Cant wait to read the rest!
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If I'm right, there is another rush story on these boards where the PNM also got the same amount of cuts that this school. She, however, did not get any invites back to anything near her favorites and dropped. You at least still have a favorite:). I can't imagine waiting a month to find out your invites. We usually get ours within a few hours after the event. And unless I kept really good notes, I think I'd forget almost everyone I met and a lot about each chapter. |
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I figured it wouldn't be hard for people, not many schools have 19 chapters! I wanted to tell a slightly different story from my school for girls that are going to go through. You'll see why when I finish it (hopefully tomorrow, but it's my 21st birthday tomorrow so I make no guarantees!)...and I will reveal my chapter and my actual GC username, don't worry. Also, for those that PMed me, I'll send you the code so you can go back and read it with that. I don't feel I've said anything remarkably groundbreaking about any of the chapters either, nothing that isn't a feeling any other PNM would have when going through at any other university. And yes, waiting over a month did suck. You second guess yourself, analyze things, analyze your notes, etc. I kept really detailed notes (it was encouraged at 19 party) and still have them to this day! Part of my notes for one house literally said 'green shag carpet = ew'! |
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Alright guys, back from the fun that was my 21st birthday...just in time for the last part of my story!
I woke up the next morning, got dressed and ready to go, hoping and praying that I still had Toffee Mocha Chip on my list. I felt like I was suiciding for 6 party! But my rho gamma told me that girls in her group had the same problem and made it through, so I still had hope. I lined up to get my list.........and when I read it, I burst into tears. Toffee Mocha Chip had cut me, and I was left with only Passion Iced Tea. I knew that I should go through with the rest of recruitment still, because Passion wanted me back, but I was so emotionally drained that I sat down and just thought about it for a few minutes. I looked back at the conversations I'd had with them, and how I'd never really felt a connection. I told my rho gamma that I wanted to drop out (while bawling), both because I never felt a connection with them, and because I didn't want to take the spot of someone at the parties who truly did want to be there. I spent a lot of the day crying, minus when my rho gamma showed up at my dorm door with a cookie dough sundae from a local ice cream place, and she called to check on me a TON. I went to her reveal and found out what chapter she was in, and still support the girls in my group to this day. But wait! There's more! I ended up finding my home in the most unlikely of chapters through COR. I'm now a very proud initiated member of Passion Iced Tea! I went to several of their COR events and got a completely different feel for the chapter, a feel that I loved and felt at home with :) For those of you that are wondering...I now love my ADPi :) And my real GC username is IUHoosiergirl89...just to prove I'm not making all of this up, haha. I wanted to tell my story because it's not quite the traditional one, especially at a school like IU. I just wanted a PNM reading this to know that hey, it's very normal to get heavy cuts after your first round, and you just have to put your best foot forward. In the end, you do end up where you're supposed to be, be it Greek or independent :) |
I really enjoyed reading your story. It must have been so hard going from 19 to 2!
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