glad to hear everything has worked out for everyone!!!
I have a couple of those risk-taking situations that I could readily think of --
One, like prospective rushee and mere mere, was just picking up everything and moving to dallas! After I graduated from high school, I pretty much had my pick at universities in texas, but decided to stay close to home for a short time and go to school @ a university nearby. I had a wonderful time there, i met new friends, made good grades and had the perfect boyfriend... but after awhile I just needed a change. My parents freaked out when I told them I wanted to move to Dallas... the school there had a better CIS program, and it was so close to the metroplex, I figured there were a ton of opportunities there. So I just packed everything up and moved after the summer term even though I didn't know a single person in the new area. I have such wonderful opportunities since I've been here!
Second risk I can think of happened my sophmore year in high school. There was this guy I thought was super sweet, polite, funny, and on top of that he was just HOT! Only problem is that he was also very shy and when I met him, he was a senior who would be graduating in my older sister's class. I figured he probably wouldn't want anything to do with a lowly sophomore
At first we didn't talk much (because I was kind of shy too), but then I decided if I really thought he was worth it, I should "make the first move" (hehehe) We became good friends before he graduated, and went to a university nearby, so it was easy to keep in touch.. and he ended up escorting me to my junior prom and have been dating ever since
So the moral of the story here is, even if you are a female, you can make the first move, and something good might happen
P.S. SATX -- move to Dallas with the rest of us!