So even though I didn't get into a house, I ended up having a good Fall semester anyway. I'd made friends, I felt more involved, and I felt less shy. Spring semester started and suddenly I had an e-mail regarding this year's Panhellenic information session. I remembered how bad my experience with recruitment had been, and wasn't going to go, when a friend from
Carnelian House texted me, asking if I would go with her because she was interested but was too nervous to go alone. So it was with some trepidation that I decided I would go. By this time, I had fallen entirely in love with
Carnelian House and more or less given up on Panhellenic sororities. Whether or not they had wanted me, it hadn't worked out or there hadn't been room for me or I hadn't found a place there or any of a number of possibilities, and I had decided to focus on what I had instead of what I didn't have.
When I got to the session with my friend, we signed in and visited the booths. I enjoyed myself looking at all of the houses again; it reminded me of recruitment. However, that hadn't worked out so well for me, so I left without much expectation. Hopefully my friend had gotten some good information, though.
A few days later I found an e-mail in my inbox from
Obsidian House, inviting me to participate in informal spring recruitment.
I had a number of conflicting emotions then. I'd almost preffed at
Obsidian House and had wanted to get a bid there. If they were inviting me to participate, than maybe... just maybe... I could have a chance to get what I hadn't gotten before.
But another part of me thought it might be stupid to go along. I'd already tried twice and hadn't succeeded. Surely I was setting myself up for failure again.
But I hadn't ever gotten to pref at
Obsidian, and the part of me that wanted to give it a chance ended up outweighing the part of me that thought it was a bad idea. I signed up to go.
The informal recruitment process was worlds different from formal recruitment. There were only 3 events, and we were invited to all of them, no cuts in between. The first night we went out bowling with some of the actives, and it was way better than Set 1. Instead of being crammed into a room screaming over the noise of other girls, we talked while doing things. I'd felt mostly natural and myself at
Obsidian House's parties anyway, but this was still way better. I had the most natural conversation, and since we were doing things instead of awkwardly staring at each other, I think it was a lot better. The whole thing felt natural, like hanging out with friends, rather than some weird awkward interview.
The second night was evening socializing at the house with snacks. I met some new actives and enjoyed myself again; even if this was a little more like recruitment had been, it was still a bit more low-key than I expected, so I was able to relax and enjoy myself.
Tuesday was the last day, and it was lunch at the house. I stopped by, feeling super awkward, between class. I was just supposed to walk up, and stand here, and ring the doorbell? I'm supposed to go in here and just take food and go there and eat it? I felt a little weird but not totally out of place; the girls I talked to were ones I had met on the previous events, and I enjoyed myself.
9.45 Wednesday night I got a call saying that they had a bid for me if I wanted to accept it. Why yes, yes I would.
Nothing made sense to me right then. What had I done differently? I couldn't tell why they wanted me now, and not before. I might have felt like I got along with the girls in the house, but I wasn't completely sure. However, I had finally gotten a bid, and to one of the houses I loved. I was so happy; now I had
Carnelian House and
Obsidian House and I was so happy! I went through the new member period trying to see if I really fit in, if I really could see myself as a lifelong member of this organization. And I was so happy to realize I did. While spring semester happened, I fell in love with the girls in the house, and now that I've been initiated and my journey through recruitment is finally over, I'm so proud to call myself a sister of
Delta Delta Delta!
Phi Beta Chapter
At the University of Arizona!
I'm still very glad that I joined Carnelian House, and I wouldn't give it up for the world. If you haven't yet guessed, as a member of Carnelian House I'm very proud to be a brother of
Alpha Phi Omega!
(Theta Iota)
I might be done with recruitment, at least on 'that' side, but I've got a few semesters left at college, and a lifetime of membership to look forward to. It took me a long time, but I finally got a happy ending... And I truly couldn't be happier
