My Sorority Story

ItGetsBetter · #1 01-30-2014, 12:09 PM

While reading through everything here, I just wanted to share my sorority story since it is a little unique and I do think there are definitely lessons that can be learned from it.

When I entered college, I was extremely apprehensive about joining a GLO, I really did not think it was going to be my thing. Everyone around me told me how perfect I would be for a sorority, but I tend to do the opposite of what everyone says so I stuck with the whole "I don't think Greek Life is for me" standpoint.

But by the time spring semester rolled around, I began to think that maybe Greek Life was for me. I filled out a COB form and went to the COB open house and did not bond with the (few) sororities that were there. I knew they were not for me no matter how badly I wanted them to be. I sadly vowed I would wait until recruitment in the fall.

Then about a month later I got a call from the XYZs. They were very interested in me and they asked me to go to dinner with them. I was not sure I wanted to join a sorority at this point, it was the middle of the semester, but I decided I would give them a try. The dinner went well, and I was invited to the house the next day to meet more of the sisters. It went great; we all were laughing, joking, had great conversations and as I left the Recruitment Director told me she would call me later. I was SURE I was getting a bid.

And the hours and days went by and no phone call...ever. It hurt, and to this day I do wish I was notified either way instead of being left hanging because that hurts even more; especially after I had already been to the house. I understand this is how it is done with many orgs, but it just did not seem right. This made me question whether or not I would want to be involved in Greek Life at all, maybe this was the universe telling me to stay far, far away.

I elected to not sign up for formal recruitment, I just did not want to anymore and at this point I felt like I had too many preconceived notions about chapters to go in with a truly clear head and have a good recruitment. However, for the first time in some time a new org. was colonizing on campus. I went in reluctant, but after the second recruitment event was put on I found myself connecting and hoping for a bid. However, there were over four times as many girls going through recruitment for this colony as there were bids so I still felt apprehensive.

It was bid day, bids and regrets were distributed at 9am and the line of girls was insane. I quivered, went to the wrong line to pic up my card, and when I finally got it I had to leave the building before I could open it. I was supposed to wait until I got home to open it but there was no way; I found a table, ripped it open and there was my bid!

But the story gets better. When my (now chapter) was still a colony I got one of the five positions on exec board, and I later became the first person ever from my chapter to serve on Panhellenic Executive Board at my school; opportunities I may have never gotten had I become an XYZ like I thought I was supposed to be. Plus, having the opportunity to sign the top of our charter as a colony exec board member was so surreal. So if it does not work out right the first or second time don't freak, I am living proof that things get better and work out the way they are supposed to!

Titchou · #2 01-30-2014, 12:42 PM

Great story! And great way to persevere. When I was a Rho Chi one time we had a girl come thru who had transferred in. She went thru recruitment but was released. I took her into an office to tell her privately. She was so distraught! We were in there over 30 minutes and everyone else was wondering if they should come in or not to rescue me! The PNM told me it was the second time she had been released ass the same thing had happened at her previous school. She was a really sweet girl and had great grades but, frankly, was not very attractive and seemed to not know how to dress and act to compensate for that. I ran into the chapter adviser for one of the groups on campus a week or so later and mentioned this girl to her. I knew they were doing COB. Well, she ended up with a bid from them and the next year - was PRESIDENT of her chapter! And wow! What a transformation that acceptance of who she was had made in her. So poised and so confident. It can happen. Am glad for you.

clemsongirl · #3 01-30-2014, 01:38 PM

What a great story! I especially liked the part about running outside to open up the envelope...similar thing happened to me during my recruitment experience. Due to massive delays in getting Pref schedules to the Pi Chis to distribute to the PNMs on the first day of pref my PX ended up taking photos of our schedules and texting them to us, so I waited until class was done and then ran to the bathroom so that I could react in private. Congrats to you on a happy ending.

TriDeltaSallie · #4 01-30-2014, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titchou

Great story! And great way to persevere. When I was a Rho Chi one time we had a girl come thru who had transferred in. She went thru recruitment but was released. I took her into an office to tell her privately. She was so distraught! We were in there over 30 minutes and everyone else was wondering if they should come in or not to rescue me! The PNM told me it was the second time she had been released ass the same thing had happened at her previous school. She was a really sweet girl and had great grades but, frankly, was not very attractive and seemed to not know how to dress and act to compensate for that. I ran into the chapter adviser for one of the groups on campus a week or so later and mentioned this girl to her. I knew they were doing COB. Well, she ended up with a bid from them and the next year - was PRESIDENT of her chapter! And wow! What a transformation that acceptance of who she was had made in her. So poised and so confident. It can happen. Am glad for you.

I. Love. This. Story.

That is all.

TriDeltaSallie · #5 01-30-2014, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ItGetsBetter

While reading through everything here, I just wanted to share my sorority story since it is a little unique and I do think there are definitely lessons that can be learned from it.

When I entered college, I was extremely apprehensive about joining a GLO, I really did not think it was going to be my thing. Everyone around me told me how perfect I would be for a sorority, but I tend to do the opposite of what everyone says so I stuck with the whole "I don't think Greek Life is for me" standpoint.

But by the time spring semester rolled around, I began to think that maybe Greek Life was for me. I filled out a COB form and went to the COB open house and did not bond with the (few) sororities that were there. I knew they were not for me no matter how badly I wanted them to be. I sadly vowed I would wait until recruitment in the fall.

Then about a month later I got a call from the XYZs. They were very interested in me and they asked me to go to dinner with them. I was not sure I wanted to join a sorority at this point, it was the middle of the semester, but I decided I would give them a try. The dinner went well, and I was invited to the house the next day to meet more of the sisters. It went great; we all were laughing, joking, had great conversations and as I left the Recruitment Director told me she would call me later. I was SURE I was getting a bid.

And the hours and days went by and no phone call...ever. It hurt, and to this day I do wish I was notified either way instead of being left hanging because that hurts even more; especially after I had already been to the house. I understand this is how it is done with many orgs, but it just did not seem right. This made me question whether or not I would want to be involved in Greek Life at all, maybe this was the universe telling me to stay far, far away.

I elected to not sign up for formal recruitment, I just did not want to anymore and at this point I felt like I had too many preconceived notions about chapters to go in with a truly clear head and have a good recruitment. However, for the first time in some time a new org. was colonizing on campus. I went in reluctant, but after the second recruitment event was put on I found myself connecting and hoping for a bid. However, there were over four times as many girls going through recruitment for this colony as there were bids so I still felt apprehensive.

It was bid day, bids and regrets were distributed at 9am and the line of girls was insane. I quivered, went to the wrong line to pic up my card, and when I finally got it I had to leave the building before I could open it. I was supposed to wait until I got home to open it but there was no way; I found a table, ripped it open and there was my bid!

But the story gets better. When my (now chapter) was still a colony I got one of the five positions on exec board, and I later became the first person ever from my chapter to serve on Panhellenic Executive Board at my school; opportunities I may have never gotten had I become an XYZ like I thought I was supposed to be. Plus, having the opportunity to sign the top of our charter as a colony exec board member was so surreal. So if it does not work out right the first or second time don't freak, I am living proof that things get better and work out the way they are supposed to!

Great story! Thank you for sharing. It's amazing the opportunities that open up by joining a sorority.