A Sugary Sweet Sorority Recruitment Story!
 

Hello all! I can't believe I'm finally in a position where I can contribute to GreekChat. Where should I even begin? Let’s start with a genuine thank you. This website - and all of its beautiful contributors - saved my LIFE when it came to figuring out the vast world that is Greek life over the past year and a half. I definitely feel as though you all don’t receive as much credit as you deserve for advising and preparing anonymous girls like me. Y’all rock!

I feel like it’s safe to assume that most incoming college freshmen are at least somewhat excited to make the transition from home to on-your-own. Take that feeling, multiply it by 1000, and then cover it in some Texas burnt orange sprinkles; that’s how enthusiastic I was about beginning my collegiate life in ATX. I had fallen in love with my dorm, my class schedule, the UT campus, and the city of Austin. Intensify those feelings with an incredibly spirited summer orientation session in June, top it off with sorority recruitment registration in July, and you’ve got one revved up 18-year-old by the time August rolls around. To put it simply, the anticipation that I had built around move-in was almost maddening. Life as a Texas Longhorn absolutely could not come soon enough!

Before I had even begun applying to schools, Greek life had drawn me in with its promises of friendship, community, and general supportiveness; all good things to look for as a scared, friendless freshman living in a brand new city. As someone with no Greek relatives, I took to the internet to find out what exactly I needed to know. Let’s just say it turned out to be a lot more than I could have ever expected! This website, in particular, taught me more than any other, answering my initial basic questions and later the more complex ones as my understanding of sorority life grew. I especially adored reading the recruitment stories, investing myself into each one, taking their experiences and advice to heart, and wondering how my own story would unfold one day (maybe I’d even have some advice of my own to give!) I quickly learned that recruitment at my school, in particular, wasn’t going to be a walk in the park, and that DEFINITELY intimidated me. Every house had a history, a reputation, a gorgeous home, and a perfectly manicured social media account to match. After months and months of continuous research, I was confident that I knew exactly what I was getting myself into (a little naive, I know.) Most importantly though, I had learned that tiers didn’t matter, and that lifelong sisters could be found almost anywhere if I was willing to put in the effort. I had come to terms with the idea that I probably wasn’t going to end up in one of the most popular or established houses on campus. I understood that I was probably going to be cut by houses that I had thought were my perfect match. Most importantly, I accepted the fact that I might not end up in any house at all, and I was okay with that. After struggling with self-esteem issues for most of my life (as many of us unfortunately do), I had surprised my friends, my family, and myself by being so gung-ho about putting myself under a microscope for groups of beautiful, talented, accomplished women to scrutinize. What if no one was going to want me? What if I wasn’t going to be what anyone was looking for? Despite all of this, I knew that rush was something I absolutely wanted to participate in, even if the fear was present right alongside with the excitement. As the summer months marched on, I had a recommendation for every house, an outfit for every round, and a mantra that I was going to repeat to myself whenever things got difficult, as I knew they inevitably would: “it only takes one.”

When deciding on my code, I knew I wanted to keep it sweet. The 13 houses at UT will be represented (in no particular order) as:
Strawberry Shortcake
Cinnamon Sugar Donut
Mango Peach Lemonade
Key Lime Pie
Lemon Pound Cake
Mint Chocolate Chip
Vanilla Cream Puff
Blueberry Cobbler
Watermelon Popsicle
Snickerdoodle Sundae
Raspberry Rose Macaron
Caramel Fudge Brownie
Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake

I hope y’all enjoy my story. Hook ‘em!

Looking forward to hearing your recruitment story.

What a great attitude! I am excited to hear your story!

I'm going to be craving desert the entire time I'm reading this I'm sure!! Looking forward to it. It sounds like you were well-prepared with a fantastic attitude!

This thread is not going to do wonders for my diet, but I'm looking forward to it all the same!

Monday, Round 0, Day 0: Opening Convocation
 

On this morning, I left bright and early with my family to make the drive down to Austin. Throughout the car ride, I felt as though I were bouncing off the walls with happiness. I spent the day moving in, chatting with my roommate, perfecting what little space I had, and worrying about the week ahead. I heard the chatter between more experienced moms and daughters as the building unpacked, and snippets of recruitment advice seemed to carry through the walls. I realized that my dorm was filled to the brim with other rushees and that thankfully comforted me a bit.

That night, an enormous group of us walked to Hogg Auditorium together where the Panhellenic team was holding a mandatory informational meeting. It was a sticky and humid kind of evening, but none of us seemed to mind. We settled into our seats as many different women stood on the stage to welcome us and talk us through the week, highlighting what we should wear, what we should talk about, and encouraging all of us to stick it out until the potentially bitter end. We also had an amazing guest speaker that really put the week into perspective for us. We received our recruitment shirts and were sorted into our Rho Gam groups. I had a good time talking with and getting to know a few of the other girls in my group.

Back at the dorm that night, my roommate and I expressed our rush hopes, fears, and expectations to one another. We even managed to squeeze in a few laughs. It was reassuring to know that I wasn’t the only one who was scared out of my mind for the week ahead. Whether I was truly ready or not, the next morning would present me with the beginning of a journey that I was unable to predict, no matter how much I had felt I’d prepared for it!

Looking forward to reading more.

I've been low carbing, but I need some sugar.

I’m rooting for Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake! Can’t wait to hear the rest of your story!

Tuesday, Round 1, Day 1: Open House
 

Getting ready this morning passed in a blur. I was thankful for the simple tasks and fleeting moments that gave me something to do because if I stood still for too long, the panic would start to creep back in. I was also glad that I had decided to keep a mini fan with me because I could feel myself starting to sweat as soon as I stepped out the door!

Mint Chocolate Chip: What felt like seconds passed, and suddenly I was standing outside of my very first house of recruitment. I was grateful for the fact that I had been expecting the door chant, but I knew that that hadn’t been the case for everyone else (the girl in front of me let out a soft “what?” as soon as it started, so it was a little hard not to giggle.) The way they led us into the house was incredibly strange (I’ve since wondered if this is normal for other schools/sororities?) and left me feeling a little uneasy to be honest. Thankfully, I was paired with a girl that made talking easy. We chatted about my dorm and our majors for a few minutes before a second girl came and joined the conversation. Unfortunately, she seemed like she would rather have been anywhere else at that point. She seemed annoyed when I would ask her questions and dismissed herself quickly. The round passed in a matter of minutes, and before I knew it we were walking to the next house. An interesting start to my day to say the least!
Watermelon Popsicle: I remember thinking about how much I loved the unique architecture of this house. It didn’t necessarily scream sorority house, and that piqued my interest. The main girl that I talked to seemed nice, and we had been involved in the same extracurricular in high school, but I wasn’t sure that our personalities clicked. She appeared to be running through a predetermined list of questions in her head and would try to quickly get back on track if I asked a question that she hadn’t originally planned on talking about. Another sister of this house came by a little bit later, and we ended up talking about the food truck scene in Austin. I felt a little disappointed with how my conversations as a whole had gone at this house but was hoping they’d give me another chance.
Lemon Pound Cake: This was a beautiful house, and I had their door chant stuck in my head for most of the day. The first sister that I talked to in this house was impossible to talk to in a way that I hadn’t really expected. I did everything that I could think of to get her to talk to me, but she just did not seem to be in the mood for recruitment. I genuinely felt like I was the active because getting any kind of response out of her was like pulling teeth! She actually ended up getting sick while we were talking (I felt so bad for her), so another sister came to talk to me instead. I absolutely ADORED her! She was hilarious and so easy to talk to. Another sister ended up coming by and we got along just as well. Despite my first conversation being a little lackluster (poor sick sister), this house had jumped to the top of my list thanks to the second and third sisters that I met.
Cinnamon Sugar Donut: One of the first things that I noticed about this house was how incredibly dark it was when we walked in. I talked to one girl the entire time, and while she was funny and seemed pretty easy going, she really loved to talk about herself. She told me all about how she had never had a boyfriend but was trying to find one, her sisters boyfriends, her friends in frats. Everything was about boys! It was honestly a little strange, but only because she talked about it for most of the round.
Blueberry Cobbler: This was another house that I really appreciated the nontraditional aspects of. Both the exterior of the house and the inside were so unique, I remember thinking about how cool it would be to just get to explore this sorority’s house alone. I immediately clicked with the goofy personality of the first girl that I talked to, and I felt so comfortable with her that I ended up accidentally sharing an embarrassing story about myself. Thankfully, she thought it was hilarious. The second and third sisters that I talked to got along just as well with me, and one even ended up complimenting me in a really sweet way. I liked the feeling of genuineness that I got from this house, but I knew it was too early for me to be certain about any of my first impressions.
Raspberry Rose Macaron: For whatever reason, this house was one that I had had high hopes for before recruitment even began. I talked to three girls here and loved each and every one of them. This was definitely one of the louder houses, as two of the sisters I talked to had already lost their voices! The way that a comment was worded by one of the sisters as I was leaving though made me think I probably wouldn’t be invited back here.
Snickerdoodle Sundae: I was a little worried about going into this house because I absolutely did not fit the look that they seemed to go for. I ended up being pleasantly surprised with my conversations here anyway. All three of the sisters that I talked to were a little silly and didn’t seem to take themselves too seriously, and that was something that I really appreciated. I was still wary of liking this house, but they had definitely made a good impression on me.
Key Lime Pie: The main active I was paired with was one of the few I met that didn’t seem to be putting on a facade. Don’t get me wrong, practically every girl I met was obnoxiously wonderful, but I know that for situations like recruitment we all want to put our best faces forward: myself included. This active, however, seemed unapologetically confident with who she was, what she was saying, and how she was feeling. I found this extremely refreshing, although the house as a whole was a little unmemorable for me.
Mango Peach Lemonade: I already knew a few of the sisters in this house and had visited with them in the springtime, so I was really excited about talking to them during recruitment. I liked every single sister that I talked to in this house, and they seemed to be genuinely having fun with recruitment. I left feeling like I could truly belong here, and I hoped I’d receive an invitation back for the next round.

There was nothing that could’ve prepared me for the amount of walking that we did on this day. The houses at Texas aren't on a street or two in a typical "sorority row" style, but spread over an entire area that we refer to as West Campus. By the time I got back to my dorm room I was thoroughly exhausted, and a dull soreness had started to settle into my throat. I had one of those moments where you look into the mirror once you get home after a long day and your first thought is “…yikes.” All I wanted was to decompress with a hot shower, a clean face, and a nice cup of honey lemon tea, and I was on a high from the excitement I felt knowing I would (hopefully ~ fingers crossed) find my home by the end of the week. The prospect of new sisters and a fresh start for the next day lulled me into a quick and restful sleep.

Yay! Sounds like a good first day, all things considered.

I'm a UT grad and I'm loving your story!

Eager to hear more!

Wednesday, Round 1, Day 2: Open House
 

I knew that today was going to be significantly shorter than the day before, so I had a little extra pep in my step while getting ready. I was really looking forward to meeting the four houses that were left on my group’s list!

Strawberry Shortcake: The first active that I was paired with had a personal connection to their philanthropy, so it was really interesting to hear about what her experience had been like in her chapter so far. An older, quieter girl came up to us after that, and we talked about my dorm for a little while since she had lived there the year before. I didn’t feel at all uncomfortable in this house, but I wouldn’t say I was blown away.
Caramel Fudge Brownie: I have very little to say about this house. I had heard that they didn’t treat the PNMs that they didn’t want in the most polite way, and I ended up having a first hand experience with one of the most popular rumors. I could tell that the active I talked to wasn’t listening to anything that I said, but I didn’t mind. If this house already knew who they wanted, then I hoped that the girls who ended up would be very happy.
Vanilla Cream Puff: I talked to two girls for most of my time in this house, and I could tell that they were genuinely good friends with one another. One of the girls was really interested in my major, so it was interesting to hear her thoughts on the career field that I was hoping to enter into. I didn’t think that I fit the look of this house either, but I was hoping that I might still be given a second invitation.
Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake: The two sisters that I talked to in this house truthfully seemed done with recruitment. I’m not sure if it was me specifically, but neither of them seemed interested in the conversation whatsoever. I kept a happy face and continued to ask them questions about themselves before it was time to leave. I couldn’t believe it, but just like that, open house was over with!

Ranking wasn’t difficult for me this night, partly because I was sure I wouldn’t be getting a full schedule regardless. The order of our top 10 houses didn’t matter, but I ranked them in order anyway to help keep things straight in my head.
I casted my vote as:
1. Mango Peach Lemonade
1. Blueberry Cobbler
1. Lemon Pound Cake
1. Vanilla Cream Puff
1. Raspberry Rose Macaron
1. Strawberry Shortcake
1. Snickerdoodle Sundae
1. Key Lime Pie
1. Watermelon Popsicle
1. Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake
2. Mint Chocolate Chip
3. Cinnamon Sugar Donut
4. Caramel Fudge Brownie

My dorm that night was full of girls anxious over how their schedules would look the next day, myself included. Many of my hall mates vocalized their fears of not being asked to join a “top tier” house, and I couldn’t help but wonder what truly separated the “top tier” from the “bottom tier.” For the most part, every single sorority at Texas seemed to be truly incredible. If someone had asked me to tell them what specifically distinguished the “bottom” houses from the “top” ones, I wouldn’t have had a clue as to what to say. I’ve always thought that the people who feel the need to explain how or why they believe themselves to be better than others aren’t people who are worth worrying much about at all. I had witnessed multiple girls entering houses over the last two days engulfed in a cloud of superiority. I couldn’t imagine how that must feel to a chapter, working so incredibly hard to put together an organized and enjoyable recruitment, just for certain girls to write them off from the get-go because they believed they were too good to be there. Everyone wants to feel liked and accepted, and I honestly feel like sorority recruitment is one of the most vulnerable situations you can voluntarily put yourself into. I was already experiencing my own self doubts in regards to how I had looked and whether or not I had been outgoing enough. There was no reason for girls to put other people’s personal opinions and experiences down by telling them that certain houses weren’t worth joining. I chatted a little longer with my roommate and a couple of other girls before I laid down and stared at my ceiling for what felt like hours. I hadn’t realized how truly nervous I was until that moment, and a thousand thoughts swam (probably completed an entire synchronized swimming routine, actually) through my head before I actually drifted off.

I love how you are thoughtfully proceeding through rush.

Me, too. You are wise beyond your years. :)

Great attitude. Can’t wait to hear more!

Also can’t believe Carmel Fudge Brownie is still pulling that Day 1 crap. Panhellenic should increase the fines to something astronomical. And NPC should have monitors.

Can't wait to hear more!

Thursday, Round 2, Day 1: Philanthropy
 

I woke up before my alarm this morning and got ready as quickly as I could. I was the second name called out during schedule pass out. My eyes quickly scanned the list.
Snickerdoodle Sundae
Blueberry Cobbler
Lemon Pound Cake
Strawberry Shortcake
Mango Peach Lemonade
Cinnamon Sugar Donut
6 out of 10. Not perfect, but it was a whole lot better than having none! There were multiple houses that I was incredibly happy to see on my list, but I had a little trouble completely masking my disappointment over the fact that the other 7 houses had already decided that I hadn’t been a good fit for them. I understood that there was no reason to mope around though if there were still so many other amazing houses that were willing to meet with me for a second time today! I left for my first party feeling a lot better and very excited to learn about all of the wonderful causes these women support.

Snickerdoodle Sundae: I felt a little more like a number to this chapter during this round. We watched a video on their philanthropy and were given a drink to sip on. I talked to two different girls, and while both were really sweet, I didn’t feel any real connection to either of them. The second girl that I spoke with had a very personal relationship with her chapter’s philanthropy, and I loved hearing her share her story. This is a house that is heavily sought after by most PNMs, so I felt as though it would be in my best interest to not become too attached to them.
Blueberry Cobbler: The girl that I was picked up by first in this house was incredibly blunt, and that shocked me a little once we started talking. She turned out to be funny, and I had a nice time talking to her, but I absolutely loved the second girl that I was paired with. Something about her seemed to radiate joy. This house’s philanthropy video felt very personal to the chapter, and I appreciated how hands-on this sorority got to be with their cause. Overall I had a decent time here, but I was still excited to visit the other houses that I had left on my list.
Lemon Pound Cake: The room that we were brought into was absolutely gorgeous, I was a little shocked with how decorated it seemed compared to the other chapters. Again, I loved this house’s philanthropy and the video that they presented, and I connected incredibly well with the girl that I talked to for most of the round. I was loving this house more and more as time went on.
Strawberry Shortcake: The treat that this house gave us was adorable, and it correlated cleverly with their philanthropy. One of the sisters in this chapter gave a heart touching speech about how her sorority affects the lives of others, and I loved that. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the best conversations here. For whatever reason, I felt like I couldn’t talk as easily with the active I was paired with as I had been able to in some of the other houses. She kept a relatively blank stare on her face for the majority of the time I talked to her, and I think that made me nervous.

After what I had heard the night before, I was still shocked when I had a few girls tell me directly after our parties that night that if I wasn’t invited back to a few specific houses, I should drop recruitment altogether. I don’t agree with that type of mindset; in fact, these types of comments make me question the reasons for other people’s choice to go through recruitment at all. Shouldn’t a sisterhood be seen for what it is: a sisterhood? C’mon, it’s 2018 people! I hurt for the girls who potentially missed out on their perfect house because of what their sister’s mother’s best friend believed to be the only sororities worth becoming a part of at a single university in a single state in a single country on a single continent in the entire world. The things that separated one house from another were so minuscule, yet they were blown out of proportion to the point where they were regarded as law by so many women during recruitment. I know I already spoke about this in an earlier post, so I’ll step off my soapbox now, but I knew in my heart at that moment that I would be proud to join any sisterhood that saw something in me that the others might not have seen. The week was already flying by, and I was beyond ready to hit the hay!

Those PNMs don't realize that all these chapters are more similar than not. Look at any sorority's Instagram from the same campus (doesn't matter the campus), members are all pretty and seem to be having fun. However, at some school, UT for example, 'tiers' are hard baked into the mud and that's all they care about. And there is a weird camp thing. I stopped going to summer camp when I was 14. I dunno.

Did you not attend Mango Peach Lemonade and Cinnamon Sugar Donut on this day?

Philanthropy is 2 days at UT.

Good to know. I was confused, too.

Friday, Round 2, Day 2: Philanthropy
 

So sorry that I did not clarify that the Philanthropy round was spread out over 2 days!

Mango Peach Lemonade: I couldn't have been happier to visit this house again! I have a genuine connection to this house’s philanthropy, and I was so happy that I was able to have such an honest conversation about the good that this chapter’s cause can do for the lives of others with the first sister I talked to. The second sister I talked to ended up having one of the same hobbies as me, something that I hadn’t had in common with anyone else during recruitment so far. I joked around so easily with the last sister that I talked to, and I saw many familiar faces on my way out. Yes, I definitely felt at home here.
Cinnamon Sugar Donut: This house’s philanthropy video confused me because of how short it was and how little information it presented to us. Someone in my family is affected by this house’s philanthropy, so I was happy to get to share that with someone else. The sister that I talked to for most of the round had a personal story to tell about their philanthropy as well. It took her the entire round to tell the story, though! I tried to fit in comments and ask questions where I could, but she wouldn’t let me intervene for the most part. She ended up having to speed through her ending because it was time for us to leave.

I had had varying experiences with the houses throughout the Philanthropy round, but I would’ve been happy to receive invitations back to any of them for the next day. My only receiving 6 invites thankfully made ranking simple. We could list our top 6 favorites to be invited back to for sisterhood.
I casted my vote as:
1. Mango Peach Lemonade
1. Lemon Pound Cake
1. Blueberry Cobbler
1. Snickerdoodle Sundae
1. Strawberry Shortcake
1. Cinnamon Sugar Donut
2.
3.
4.
5.

I honestly had no idea what to expect from my schedule the next day. I was inclined to believe that I’d be lucky to get more than one chapter back at all. Although I had given the process all that I had so far, I was also terrified of receiving a release phone call. I had already met so many incredible women, and there had been multiple instances in which I’d been reminded why I chose to go through the process in the first place because of the sisterly bonds, kindness, silliness, and dedication I’d seen in practically every chapter I’d visited. I had always thought it was a tad bit silly when girls would gush about how connected and at home they felt with certain chapters after visiting with them for a grand total of 70 minutes, but I was beginning see how easy it was to get swept up in the thrill of it all. My doubts about how quick the bonds of friendship and sisterhood could form were fading fast, and that’s something I was so pleasantly surprised about. I was beyond ready to run home.

You have an outstanding and mature attitude toward recruitment. It's a shame that there are those PNMs who have already discounted those that they deem to be "below them." Sadly though they've likely heard this from family and friends.:(
Can't wait for the next installment in your story.

You're forcing me to root for my least favorite confection on your list. Go Mango Peach Lemonade!

Love this story so far! You are very good about keeping an open mind.

Looking forward to hear more of your story! And I'm really wishing there was a "like" button on this forum. Your attitude is absolutely awesome!!

Saturday, Round 3: Sisterhood
 

Thank you all so much for your kind words! It really does mean a lot to me.

Completely opposite from the day I had picked up my Philanthropy schedule, I was one of the last names to be called to pick up my Sisterhood schedule. I could feel my heart racing with every second that passed. I opened my schedule to find:
Lemon Pound Cake
Blueberry Cobbler
Strawberry Shortcake
3 out of 6. But most importantly, WHERE was Mango Peach Lemonade?! Ouch. Rejection had hurt worse than I had expected it to. In fact, it felt a little like getting slapped in the face, followed by a few bee stings and half a bottle of “no tears” soap in my eyes to finish it off. I had prepared for this exact moment for months now, so why was that familiar sharp pain of disappointment still present in my throat? Realizing that I would only feel worse if I tried to bury my true reaction to the situation, I allowed myself to be an emotional 18 year old girl in the minutes that followed after I received that schedule. I knew that this morning had been a big deal for a lot of other girls too, so I wasn't surprised when multiple PNMs squealed with excitement/cried hysterically/threw their schedule on the ground (yes, one girl really did this). I won’t lie and say that I wasn’t disappointed by my schedule because initially, I was. I was disappointed that so many houses had already determined I wasn’t what they were looking for. I was ESPECIALLY disappointed that I would never join my friends as a Mango Peach Lemonade. I quickly grieved over my losses before reminding myself of the houses that were still on my list. These houses were filled with beautiful, intelligent sisters that were willing to give me another chance, and that in and of itself amazed me.

Lemon Pound Cake: Again, the decor of this house was simply breathtaking. The snacks presented to us were unique and delicious. Their video was well put together and seemed to really showcase their personality as a chapter. Members read letters that they had written to other sisters in the chapter, and the round was finished with a beautiful song. I had heard rumors about this house the entire week, essentially saying that they only took girls of a certain type. I was not this type, but I of course respected the sisters who were, so I figured if this house invited me back I would still be incredibly excited because of the positive experiences I had had there all week long.
Blueberry Cobbler: The active that I talked to was absolutely wonderful. She was so real in a way that I had seen very little of throughout the week. The sisters of this house spoke about their big and little relationships, as well as how they had all grown closer throughout the year. I also liked the video that they played for us.
Strawberry Shortcake: This house had been a bit of a question mark for me all week. This house was decorated beautifully, and while I didn’t connect on a personal level with the active I spoke to, we made polite conversation throughout the round. She seemed sweet and really passionate about her house, but we just didn’t automatically click in the way that I had with many of the other sisters in other houses.

I casted my vote as:
1. Lemon Pound Cake
2. Blueberry Cobbler
3. Strawberry Shortcake
4.
5.
6.

I always get the feeling that I haven’t done enough, that I wasn’t what people wanted, that I didn’t live up to the standards or expectations of others, no matter how prepared I feel. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel that way after I finished this round. In my heart, I knew I’d done all that I could at that point to show these women who I was and what I had to offer. I’d been introduced to some amazing chapters, to some incredible women. I’d cried over my losses, and I’d laughed with new friends that were just as confused as I was. I had presented these sororities with what I was. For some, it would not be enough. I knew this. But I hoped that for just one, it would be.

I'm really hoping for a happy ending. Your maturity seems well beyond your years!

Good for you that you've recognized this during your recruitment journey!!! You're almost there!!!:) One of these three will be thrilled to extend you a bid. Then it is up to you to make the most of the opportunity. Good luck.

I can't wait to hear the rest of your story! You have such a great attitude!! Keeping my fingers crossed for a very happy ending!

I can't wait to hear where you preffed! I'm riveted to your story and the depth of emotion you're sharing in the retelling.

I'm really looking forward to learning what happened with your recruitment! I'm pretty sure I know who Lemon Pound Cake and Blueberry Cobbler are, and have a good idea about Strawberry Shortcake (and Mango Peach Lemonade) too! I find your insights into the UT recruitment process, as well as your own self-reflection, very interesting and refreshing.

Can't wait to hear the rest!!!

Sorry to thread jack, but ForrestGrump, you and I are locals. :)

Sunday, Round 4: Preference
 

As I meticulously fixed my hair, carefully applied my makeup, and slipped into my black dress for that day, I began to reflect on the week and all that had happened thus far. Was it possible for time to both fly by and move at a snail’s pace simultaneously? Earlier that week, I hadn’t a clue as to where I could belong, who I might mesh with, or where the wind would take me. I was now about to enter my final day of recruitment with mixed feelings. I was nervous, I was hopeful, and I was confused. I knew in my heart that I truly would’ve been happy to see any of the houses that I had visited the day before on my list. I was also incredibly surprised to hear about how many girls had been dropped from recruitment all together throughout the week, and my heart went out to them. I had figured that everyone would receive a bid if they stuck it out through the week, but that had turned out to not be the case. Many of my friends that had entered into recruitment with me had found themselves broken-hearted after answering release phone calls from their Rho Gams as the week went on. I was given my schedule, and I opened it to see:

Blueberry Cobbler

I smiled. Blueberry Cobbler. I had consistently loved this house throughout the week, and I was so glad to see them on my schedule that I barely even gave a second thought to Lemon Pound Cake or Strawberry Shortcake.

Blueberry Cobbler: The sisters sang a quietly as we came in, and I loved that. I was paired with a girl that I had met and loved earlier during the week. She led me into a room where two sisters sang an absolutely beautiful song, and another sister read a letter to one of her closest friends in the chapter. We were then led into the main area where the seats were arranged in the shape of their symbol. The president spoke so honestly about her chapter. We heard more speeches, and I talked with another girl that I had clicked really well with that week before they sang us out the door.

Ranking was simpler than simple. I cast my vote as:
1. Blueberry Cobbler
2.

I ended up asking my Rho Gam if I was guaranteed a spot in Blueberry Cobbler. She told me that nothing is promised, but that I should remain hopeful. Ever since I was very little, my mom has always told me that what is meant to be, will be. Although this phrase is often hard to hear because it’s usually brought up in times of stress or worry, I appreciated the truth of it at that moment. If it was meant to be, it would be.

What a great thread. Where ever you landed they are very lucky to have you. Congratulations!
I think I know who Blueberry Cobbler is from your description of their House. As you said in the beginning it only takes one!!

I am loving this thread. Please make my day and tell me you are a proud new member of Blueberry Cobbler.

No mention of PNMs being carried on a member’s back leaving the sisterhood round and no “glitter bombing” mentioned for Pref so maybe we can rule those 2 out ...

Being that I live in West Michigan, where we have a lot of blueberry farms, I'm really hoping to hear that you received a bid to Blueberry Cobbler!