Not So Sure Now
 

I just pledged Chi Omega at the UW, but now I am not so sure that I did the right thing. I seemed to fit in with the girls at Rush and felt comfortable at the house, but now that it's all said and done the girls seem to be completely diffrent. I don't know if I should go depledge or stick it out and see how it turns out, any advice would be great.

Maybe stick it out for just a little bit longer? It sounds like you a feeling a bit tentative. How do you like your pledge class? If you like them, perhaps wait until you have bonded a bit more with people before deciding anything rash, or that you cannot undo. I don't know your campus, but I think that if you were to decide to depledge, I don't know how easy it would be for you to rush another NPC group the following year (you might be something of a "marked woman"...sorry to say that, but rush has some not-so nice sides to it). Also, in the long run, Chi O is a very large sorority and this could come in handy if you were to move cities and you didn't know anyone. You could make friends with other Chi O's in the local alum chapter when you got to your new city.

Whatever you decide, I hope that it works out for you. Maybe there are some Chi O ladies who could offer you some advice.
You are definitely in a tough predicament. Good Luck! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Stick it out for a couple more weeks, at least. Rush is SUCH a stressful time, on both sides - give the sisters and yourself time to "decompress." I know there were times after our rush period, that I was so tired of smiling I just wanted to crawl into a hole & hide! But, it was nothing personal to anyone. Plus classes are just starting up. Give everything & everyone a few weeks to settle down & gt back to normal.

I vote for sticking it out...my grandmother used to say to give a new situation 6 weeks before you decided to change anything and that advice has served me well over the years. You'll probably get really closes to some of your new sisters in the next few weeks!

Hi Jessica,

I would definitely suggest sticking it out. You've only been in it for a week. Like 33girl said everyone needs to decompress after rush.

I'd give it about two more weeks at least. Also talk to your Pledge Mom about your concerns and also to the active who Preffed you. You mean a lot to these girls and they'll want you to be happy.

Also don't be afraid to randomly call any active or pledge to chat or hangout. That's part of being a sister. If there are any alumnae around that you feel comfortable with talk to them too.

With only four NPC sororities on your campus (all which are strong nationally) you might have a prob re-rushing if you wait too long. That's why you need to be sure of your decision.

If you get to the one month point and you're still questioning your choice and the members haven't helped out then I'd suggest depledging.

Good Luck!

It sounds like your grandmother gives pretty sound advice! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif Also, grandmas have a lifetime of experience from which to draw, so we younger ones would be wise to heed their advice. Stick it out for the time being...you may start to gel with some of the members and feel more comfortable.

Please post again later and give us an update and let us know how it is going!

Hey, I know the feeling. When I went through and pledged I had so many mixed emotions. My Frosh year I wanted to leave sooo bad, but now I am an extremely active, very happy member. I love my house and wouldn't know what to do without my sisters. Stick it out, because it just might be the whole newness of the situation wearing off.

Much Love,

Kymberleigh
Delta Delta Delta

WARNING: This will be long!

There are like 4 million emotions running through your head right now! I know I've been there, and I'm sure 99% of everyone else on this board can relate. Recruitment is SO SO PHONY! You must understand this - just wait until next year when you're on the inside...you won't believe half the stuff you're told to do (from Vaseline on your teeth to keep your "SMILE," to the passing out of starlight mints during voting between parties, to tricks to remember the prospectives names....ever wonder why everytime you met a sister during rush they repeated your name like 5 times in their first sentences? http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif)

Then its Bid Day and everybody is SO HAPPY and they are all excited and then BOOM...postpartum syndrome...i.e. the big let down period! All of a sudden you're expected to be at meetings and events, and study hours, etc...and all these girls who were "SO INTERESTED" in you during rush seem to have better things to do, and when you wear your new letters, some sisters don't even recognize you on campus!

All of these are perfectly normal feelings - and while they aren't the warm fuzzies you got during rush, they are a part of growing into your sisterhood. This is where you learn how to live with how-ever-many women (who all come from different backgrounds) and know that you will not always like them and they will not always like you. You will also find the sisters that you wonder how you ever lived without. And you will cry at every single initiation because it is so beautiful and the vows you take will become so much more meaningful everytime! You will know what it feels like to be visiting another town in another state, and see a girl with XO on her necklace/shirt/car/etc. (and no matter if she is beautiful or ugly or super nice or super snobby or driving a Lexus or driving a run-down Ford Escort), she will be your sister. I literally got teary eyed the first time I met an AXO when we were on vacation. She saw my lavalier and ran up to me and just threw her arms around me - it was awesome! And you MUST take the good with the bad. There will be times where you will want to quit - you will doubt yourself and your sisterhood because it is a MAJOR decision in your life. It is the ONLY sorority you will ever belong to. But you need to stick with it awhile and give it a fair shot. Recognize your emotions for what they are, but realize its all a continual growing and learning process.

DISCLAIMER: I am in NO WAY saying that you should stay with a group that promotes hazing and other illegal (or otherwise) practices that makes you feel personally in danger (physically, mentally, emotionally, or otherwise). I am simply trying to share with you the trials and tribulations (but also TREMENDOUS JOYS & PERSONAL SATISFACTION) that are a part of the growing process.

Sorry this is so long, but I hope I have shared some common emotions that many of us have felt during this time. Please feel free to email me if you want to talk. I may not be a Chi-O, but I am a "seasoned" alumnae who remembers these exact feelings from not so long ago! I promise you that if you will give 100%, you will get double that in return! Good luck to you and all of you who are sharing these feelings!

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"Alpha Chi Omega - If you only had 2 wishes, what would your second one be?"

AXO Alum - BRAVO, sister! what a wonderful way to express the ups and downs of rush versus the ups and ups of sisterhood!

JJ13 -
I wholeheartedly agree with all the advice offered by the previous posts! Give your new home a chance - at least a few weeks... this is a brand-new experience, and like any new relationship it will need some time to show its true colors.

Also, you might consider turning to your pledge sisters, some of whom might be experiencing the same "post-rush letdown". These are the girls with whom you will be spending your most memorable times in the sorority, and you will be amazed at the strength that you can draw from one another. Though you are still new members, you are all Chi Omega new members together... you might not know the ritual, but you do have a bond that you can rely on. There might be several other girls that are feeling the same disillusionment that you are, and you might be able to banish it by spending time together.

Please let us know how it all works out! Chi Omega is a wonderful sorority, and I feel confident that you will find the love and friendship and camaraderie that you are looking for if you give it time. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Hey JJ13!

I was just wondering what you decided to do about Chi Omega and how things worked out for you. I just pledged Chi-O as well and so far things are going really well for me. I hope that things have gotten better for you! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif
Go Hootie! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif