[GPhiSweetiePie]

[SIZE=1.5]My story's a little long, but hopefully it will encourage some of you rushees to stick it out.

My older sister attended college at the same campus where I go now, she graduated about 8 yrs ago now. She is a Theta, and originally my thought on my legacy status was that I probably wouldn't be in the same house she had been in. Boy, did that change once recruitment rolled around!

After the first round of parties (16 houses in a day, oh my), I believe I ranked my top 5 as DG, Theta, Chi-O, SK, and Zeta. My sister (who I gave a daily report to) was surprised Theta was so high on my list, not that there's anything wrong with it, but she and I have different personalities so she wasn't sure I'd like her house as much. Turns out at that party the girl who rushed me went to my high school and although I didn't know her very well, we were friends with a lot of the same people, and we had a wonderful conversation about it. I also had a great convo at DG, an OK one at Chi-O (I stupidly ranked them so high due to their popularity, shame on me), was impressed by the down-to-earth girls at SK, and loved the convo and the energy with the Zeta girls. By the way, G-Phi was one of my houses I ranked in the middle, I think 6th or 7th after that day.

Day Two, I went back to DG, Theta, SK, Zeta, G-Phi, DZ, AXO, A-Phi, AGD, and Phi Mu. Chi-O's had released me (Lord knows why, but I know I wouldn't fit in there) and DZ was on my list instead of them, which I was OK with, and the rest of my top 10 was there. After this day, we ranked all the houses again, but we'd be going to 6 the next day. I don't remember my ranking exactly, but I know Zeta was #1 and Theta was #2, and a couple of the houses I had really liked moved down my list a little for various reasons, and a couple I hadn't liked all that much moved up a little. G-Phi was still about 6 or 7, I think.

Day Three, I went back to Zeta, Theta, Pi Phi, AOPi, SK, and G-Phi. Notice that 2 of those, Pi Phi and AOPi, were not houses that I attended on Day 2. While I did have a good time at Pi Phi on day three and ranked them higher after it, I knew I wouldn't pref there after not being there every single day. I knew from day one that I didn't want to be an AOPi, so I didn't really have a good time on day three there, not to mention feeling a little blue because I was there instead of any of the houses I had ranked higher. I was a good sport, though. After this round I realized SK was not for me, either. Again, I don't really remember my rankings, but I know that again, Zeta was #1 and Theta was #2.

Pref day. Oy. I got my list and started bawling. It was SK, AOPi, and G-Phi. I called my sister because at this point I was seriously considering dropping out of rush, I mean come on, my top 2 had released me. Her advice saved me. She said, "You know, all through rush even if you've really liked a house you've told me what reservations you have about it. Except Gamma Phi. That's the only one you haven't had anything remotely bad to say about. So I really think that's where you're supposed to be, but you have to go to the houses you don't like in order to get to the one that you do, those are the rules." She was right. I went to the other parties, knowing I didn't want to be there, and breathed a sigh of relief when I got to G-Phi. I started to really picture myself there and realized how completely genuine all the girls are, a quality that I highly value. When I ranked that day, I put G-Phi first, SK 2nd, and Zeta 3rd, because I knew I was probably going to get my first choice, but if it came down to it I'd still accept a bid from them, and I really did not want to rank AOPi.

On bid day, I opened up the card and saw the crescent moon and about fell on the floor, I was so relieved. I love my G-Phi!!

Let this be a lesson to you rushees...Stick it out, and go with your gut! The corny saying "You'll end up where you're meant to be" is very true in most cases, and where you end up is totally what you make of it.[/SIZE]