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Convocation/Orientation Evening
After spending the entire day in my major orientation program, I arrived back at the dorm to get ready for rush orientation. Lisa and Tina assure me it will be a casual affair, which is a good thing because all I have time to do is take a quick shower, put on some lip gloss and mascara and change my clothes. We walk over to the activities center together, looking a little like clones. We’re each wearing an embroidered peasant top, Levi’s 501s, and water buffalo sandals. No, we weren’t hippies. That’s just the way most girls dressed at the time and we met up with lots more girls wearing the same “uniform” at orientation.
The activities center is packed and so loud! I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of girls who are rushing. This rush thing is obviously a much bigger deal than I realized. The Panhellenic board takes the stage and explains just how things will work. I’m a little surprised when I learn we can’t go to the parties with whomever we want. I had hoped to tag along through rush with my suitemates, especially since I was sure we’d soon be sisters! I had a bit of an awakening when the process was explained during orientation.
After the convocation ceremony and orientation, we all break up into our rush groups and get to meet our Rush Counselor. She seems so sweet and genuinely interested in helping all of us. She hands out a booklet that includes a page for each sorority with a photo of the house along with their Greek letters and the words spelled out in English. All of those Alphas, Phis, Pis and Deltas! I knew the only chance I had to keep them straight would be to take good notes; and thankfully each page also had a place just for this purpose. Especially during the first four days, I ferociously scribbled notes right after each party. I still have that booklet and am using it to write this today.
I know two girls in my rush group from the public high schools I mentioned, but not well. The worst part is I feel like everyone seems to know what they are doing except ME! I’m confused but since I’m in it for fun, I’ll give it the old college try.
I’ve had a very long and overwhelming day and go right to sleep once I get back home, in spite of my jabbering suite mates whose anxiety keeps them up well past midnight. I sleep like a baby. I haven’t a care in the world.
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