Just a Story from a Confused Kid.

[midnightlights]

I just wanted to tell my story and seek a little advice. Currently I am a freshman (just completed my first semester) at Georgia Tech which has 6 sororities.

Last year, after talking with my parents and various other people in my life, I decided I wanted to go through recruitment. Both of my parents were Greek, and I had heard nothing but positive things from both of them. At graduation parties I heard a lot about potential gains from joining a sorority. And I felt good because I felt there would be less pressure than at a school with more women, sororities, and competition. I was really getting excited about recruitment. I got involved with the pre-planning: I asked the director of this year's recruitment about any questions I had, I picked my outfits, I tried to get any concerns out of my head. I wanted this to be a fun time.

Well, the first day came and went. I visited all the houses, I was myself, and everyone was very nice. I had no qualms about any of the houses -- I liked all of them and they seemed to like me too. Things were really looking good. But the next day wasn't so good. When the little schedule sheets went around to everyone in my group, I only had one house to visit. Everyone I saw around me still had 5.

I started feeling really upset. I thought there was something wrong with me. I couldn't stop thinking that if I couldn't make it here -- at a school with so few women on campus -- that there had to be something wrong with me. I remained upset for a little while until I began to analyze how each of the events had gone. The only thing I could really think that had gone wrong, which I could have slapped myself for, was my nervousness. I got so nervous walking in those doors that when I was asked about my high school activities, I could only think of one not-so-important-or-outstanding one. I could have said so many things -- National Honor Society, Beta Club, Newspaper, Orchestra, French Honor Society... I also couldn't think of any questions to ask the sisters so maybe they thought I wasn't very interested. I don't know. I just didn't understand why I was cut the way I was. I haven't talked to anyone who had such a drastic cut as I did. In fact, after the first day of recruitment, I only met one other girl who didn't still have five houses to visit. I still feel sad when I think about it. I wouldn't have felt so bad if I had been at a school with a very competitive rush, but I wasn't. Most of the girls did and do get bids. I only know three who didn't this year -- myself included.

I did buck up a little bit later though. But this year has only made me realize that I do want to go through recruitment again. I have seen what joining a sorority has to offer at my school, and I want to be a part of it. I really have started to love my school and I want to be involved with it in a big way. I want to make my mark. A lot of my friends I have made have joined sororities here, and I really like what they have told me and what I have seen. Plus, I know there is nothing against going through recruitment a second time here; some of the people I know rushed twice and pledged the second year!!

My question is: would it be worth it for me to try again? If I did, could I still talk about what I was involved with in high school? What can I do to show that I am really interested in this and think this is right for me? Last year I asked the director of recruitment about recommendations and if they were very important and she told me that a lot of girls join sororities with no recommendations, which I know was the case with a lot of my friends, but would they be helpful as a sophomore going through recruitment?

Thank you.