Like I said, I came back to school in the fall as an active sister of my SAI chapter. I was more than thrilled, but was having a hard time feeling a close connection with all the girls.
I wanted to become a leader and with SAI having such a small focus, only doing music related service and recruiting girls within the music building--it wasn't fulfilling my desire. (to become a member of SAI you do not have to be a music major, you just have to take one music course and be able to display musical competancy.)
I began researching other organizations that catered to exactly what I was looking for. A friend of mine from work is a member of Phi Sigma Pi and they were advertising recruitment events all over campus. I talked to him about it and he encouraged me to go. I feel in love with this organization the second I walked in the door. I felt right at home. Everyone was so nice and friendly.
But, if you know anything about Phi Sigma Pi, it is not like pledging your typical greek organization. At the end of rush, there was "Interview Night" which gives the brothers a chance to meet with the prospectives on a more serious note. Then, whoever is invited to continue on in the initiation process is called and invited to attend pinning. I recieved the call and was soo thrilled. Sarah, our initiated advisor that semester, said to me, "Yeah, we love you." I immediately called my sister and what I said to her is something I hope to portray to all the PNMs out there.
"This being greek thing isn't so hard once you find the right organizations." She agreed with me, of course.
I began the loooong process into the brotherhood of Phi Sigma Pi. That which includes interviewing all active brothers, planning and carrying out a social, service, and fundraising event. And, then, at the end of it all each initiate class has to throw a Philosophy of Life Social (affectionately called POL) for the brothers. We also had to make an 80 on the National exam that covered the history of the fraternity.
I was voted President of my initiate class-the Alpha Deltas, when our first president was "voted off the island" as we jokingly called it. Because on top of everything else, the brothers voted on us once every two weeks and if there was someone that they felt was not up to par, that person was asked to leave. We started as a class of 25 and only 12 of us made it to initiation.
That process was tough and grueling, but looking back, it was one of the most meaningful periods of my life. My pledge class really bonded and even to this day, all of us are really close. Phi Sigma Pi has offered me the fellowship and acceptance I have always searched. I love each and every one of them because they accept me for who I am-crazy, cooky, off the wall, screaming with joy AlwaysSAI. I love being a brother because I have so many friends in so many places and I love running into my brothers on campus. The love that has come to me through Phi Sigma Pi is indescribable.
As PinkBabyGirl said, not getting a bid from an NPC org. was one of the hardest, but also one of the best things that happened in my life. Had it not been for that, I never would have found my true home, the place where I belong in Phi Sigma Pi. *As one of my favorite bros put it, "ΦΣΠ Brothers, Friends.....Forever."
So, yes, I sit in meetings for 4 hours every Sunday with Phi Sig starting at 5p and SAI starting at 8p, but I love both of these organizations so much and the vows I took in each of them are so important to me that I would never dream of going inactive. Although, some Sundays, it's a lot to handle.
An update for both of my chapters:
SAI-KG chapter made huge feats during the 2006-07 school year! Though we were chartered at the School of Music since 1999 we were not fully affiliated with the university. This year, we achieved that goal and are now reaping the benefits of this affiliation. I am also a newly elected officer in the position of Corresponding Secretary & Editor!!!
Since I pledge
Phi Sigma Pi, we have gained quite the reputation on campus for an organization that creates leaders. SOMETHING WE ARE VERY PROUD OF! We worked really hard with our local cause of supporting the brain anuersym foundation and raised a total of almost $2,000 throughout the spring semester through a variety of fundraisers and a quite successful benefit concert. And, most importantly, due to all of our hard work with the BAF, because of a letter I wrote, we were awarded the Human Relations Award through the office of Multicultural Affairs for the 2007 year. It is a very prestigous award which awarded us a glass plaque, a plaque on the "Wall of Honor" in the Student Center and $100.
I couldn't be happier since I found my home!