I was one of those girls who got cut, for the most part during rush in college. (For an idea of what rush was like at the time - 1987 - the thread is "How is rush supposed to run?")
I must have been a real fish out of water. The chapters I *thought* I was getting along really well with didn't extend a bid. I received a (reluctant, I found out later) bid from the one chapter I knew I didn't get along with. It wasn't a knee-jerk reaction, I put as much thought into this as I could given the circumstances.
To receive bids, we were told to go to the Student Activities Office on a certain day and time. No PX or anything, just pick the group you wanted that picked you, or not. When I saw that one disappointing card, I had to suck it up. I'm not good at fighting back tears but I think I held some dignity together, even though it was clear I was upset. It was a tough choice for a sophomore alone on a humongous campus: join a chapter you didn't feel you could bond with, or go GDI. I went GDI.
The second "sucking it up" was back in the dorm. The other girls I had rushed with all got their bids. I'll not elaborate on that part.
I've done a lot of things in life, but this is one episode I've wished many times I could do over. Even though I have no clue what I could/would/should do differently, if anything. Sometimes life works out for a reason--it took a *lot* of years before I could say that with some conviction. <g>
Today, I'm ready to try again, this time as an alumna. If I do get initiated and work with a chapter, I hope the hard experiences I had can be put to use to help other girls who also have to make those tough choices, or who had them made for them.
Hugs,
Adrienne
