[shellylou]

Pref day came & I did not hear from Laura during the day. I sent her good wishes & asked her to keep me posted. I have to say that this was a crazy day for me to be guiding a young woman through recruitment because I was on a motorcycle trip with my husband. I happened to check my Facebook via my mobile after an early dinner while on our bike. I assumed PNM's were allowed to use their phones after their Pref parties were over. Laura stated she was completely confused on what to do because she did go to 3 Prefs but was only totally in love with Nashville. The other 2 houses were the same 2 houses that she just didn't connect with all week long, Indianapolis & Niagara Falls. She told me she couldn't see herself at either place but she really wanted sisterhood. She didn't want to spend the next 4 yrs without it. She was considering single intentional preferencing Nashville. I told her that to be considered for quota additions she must list all 3 & she also got that same answer from her Rho Chi. I asked her to look deep inside herself...could she see herself as the needed spark that the 2 houses that she felt lacked something, may need? I told her that she may be the leader that they need in the semesters to come. I said, Laura, you have nothing to lose & everything to gain by listing 3 choices. If it doesn't work out you can be released of your pledge but you will find your sisterhood if you really want it! Don't take a chance by not listing all 3...it only takes 1! I'm sure people watching me on the back of our Goldwing thought I was nuts working so intensely on my phone! Laura had 90 minutes to decide...I was trying to get her my thoughts before it was too late. I reminded her of a guaranteed bid if she listed all 3 but I could not make the decision for her. I could only imagine what went through her mind. I have been down this road many times at my alma mater, with my oldest daughter & her friends but not in Alabama!
The next minutes felt like hours. Finally she messaged that she did it...she listed all 3: Nashville, Indianapolis & Niagra Falls in that order. I congratulated her & told her she would be a sorority new member the next day. I don't think she got much sleep.
The next morning bids went out at 10AM...I didn't get a joyous message right away but figured she must be busy with bid day excitement. I was on pins & needles. Finally, I got a simple Whoohoo on my messenger...Laura got her first choice of Nashville! Which means she is a proud new member of Alpha Omicron Pi!
Guess if she can't be a Theta Phi, she can be an AOPi! Lol! I get to do this all over again with my double legacy daughter in a few weeks but thank god, not in Alabama! I am so glad I got to experience recruitment at Alabama. I doubt Theta Phi will have a chapter there anytime soon so for me this was as good as it gets!