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DAY 5: Preference Day
I woke up as early as I could to shower, dry my hair, and curl it. I put on my favorite dress and heels – something that just screamed “me!” I was excited. I had my decision made, and though it technically wasn’t up to me to decide, I felt so sure that Vanilla would be my future home.
On the other hand, my hall-mates were so nervous! We all met for a big PNM meeting before getting our schedules… so many girls had dropped throughout the week. One of my closest friends from my Pi Chi group had dropped out, and I had heard stories of girls who had gotten the dreaded “call” from their Pi Chis, telling them they had been cut from recruitment.
The auditorium was CRAZY as we received our schedules. We were told to grab the paper, and get up and leave, to avoid chaos. I heard my name and jumped up, my heart beating.
I looked down and saw:
Vanilla
Pink Lemonade
Watermelon
So Dr. Pepper had dropped me…. Hmm! I wasn’t bummed because I knew all along it wasn’t where I was supposed to be. But I was secretly wishing that I had put Cotton Candy above Watermelon… I wish I could see whether or not they had extended me an invitation.
I was so thrilled to be returning to Vanilla and Pink Lemonade. I was sad Vanilla was the first one I’d visit, because I knew that the whole day, I’d be dreaming of being in Vanilla while at other houses’ preference parties.
Some of my friends hadn’t had as good as luck as I’d had… one only had one chapter listed on her schedule. Another had two – she started crying, for they weren’t the chapters she had hoped for.
As I lined up to go into Vanilla, I felt so sure of my decision. I chatted with some girls I had met about their schedules. Some were so happy. Some were disappointed. One girl started bashing on Vanilla, but I said to her proudly, “This is actually my number one choice.” I had no shame because of what the girl had said. I loved it!
The Vanilla girls came out of the house and announced our names. The girl who had comforted me yesterday called mine! She took me inside to see the ceremony. I was so touched by what the chapter did for the PNMs at the ceremony. I won’t go into details, but it was definitely a gesture of kindness and boy, how thoughtful these girls were! I smiled to myself as I listened to what the girls had to say. I didn’t cry like I had the day before, but it was certainly touching.
As the girl walked me out of the house, she turned to me and asked if she could give me a hug. I said, “YES!” and we hugged and talked until a Pi Chi barked at me to leave and get to my next social! I had a good feeling ☺
Pink Lemonade was kind of the same deal. I was happy to see the girl who had cried to me about Cotton Candy in line at Pink Lemonade. I was so glad she hadn’t dropped recruitment. To this day, I don’t know where she ended up but I’m glad I got to see her get to Pref Day. The girl from Philanthropy day picked me up at Pink Lemonade, and took me inside. I still loved it at this house, and knew I’d also be so happy to be a member there, too. Surprisingly, I enjoyed their actual ceremony better than I did Vanilla’s. The song they sang was absolutely beautiful (I’m a sucker for singing) and I started to question whether I should pref Pink Lemonade or Vanilla first…
At Watermelon, I listened and watched intently, but I knew I didn’t belong there. Their ceremony didn’t move me. I was so honored to be invited back, but it just wasn’t right.
I waited in line for over two hours to pref…. I was sweating from head to toe. I knew Vanilla was the one for me… but I kept doubting my decision, thinking that maybe I should place Pink Lemonade first. From what I had read online, Pink Lemonade was considered more of a “top tier” house than Vanilla…. What was the right thing to do? Should I pick the house that I had fallen in love with and cried over, or the house that might be more “popular?”
To be honest, there was a good period I spent in that line trying to convince myself to put Pink Lemonade first. But as I thought back, I remembered how I had felt after going to Vanilla. I knew that’s where I should be. I couldn’t sacrifice that feeling of belonging for any sort of popularity or status.
I sat down at the computer with a male volunteer. I wrote out my choices on a slip of paper:
1. Vanilla
2. Pink Lemonade
3. Watermelon
“Are you sure this is what you want?” the man said.
I looked down at the slip of paper, and then at him, and I took a deep breath in.
“Yes.”
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