A Wicked Recruitment: Fall '08

[Smile_Awhile]

Sorry about the wait guys! Life caught up with me... But here's day 2!

Today was an afternoon day- this was because a required event for freshman orientation occurred that evening. Since this was skit day, it actually worked out quite well as a tea- sort of event. The dress was Sunday dress- I chose to wear a pretty wrap dress that hits me in all the right places- in other words, a great dress. I felt confident about invites back to Nessarose and Elphaba- Glinda, I wasn’t so sure about.

After getting back in our giant alphabetical line, we received our invites.

Mine said:

Break | Elphaba | Nessarose

No invite back for Glinda for me. I was slightly disappointed, but quickly got over it- as a nerves attack came back. What if I didn’t do well conversing with the sisters today? Would I still like these girls? All these “what ifs” came back into my brain.

Before the first groups left, I found out Darcy’s list- she got invites back to all three houses. I told her I was slightly jealous, but we had discussed my strong feelings about Glinda the night before. She told me that it was probably all for the best. I don’t know what Amanda and Betty’s invites were for that party.

After another session of awkward conversation with my fellow PNMs (we were all nervous!), it was time to go to the party at Elphaba! I was very excited to go in here, after the great experience I had had the day before.

Elphaba: Tonight, we were seated at tables with our active. I really don’t remember many specifics about the conversation. What I do remember is that she reminded me of a girl I knew in high school. She was outgoing, talkative, sweet, and funny. We talked about some of the famed alumni of this sorority. In fact, two of those alums (who I greatly admired) were from this chapter! This was so awesome to me, as I’ve always admired these two women. They then did their skit. It was the “progression” of going through recruitment, to initiation, to senior year. Skits at my school are not full out Broadway-style productions, as the sororities don’t have the resources to do anything like that. But it was super cute, and I loved the humor and style of it. We also talked about their philanthropies- they have a chapter philanthropy as well as their nationals’ philanthropy. The story behind the chapter’s philanthropy was very touching, and lovely. This was just a good party, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also made this connection with this sister- it was the thought that “I could see myself calling her sister.” It was just such a good talk. I loved this party.

Then, the Nessarose party.

Nessarose: This party was decorated beautifully. There was nice china, beautiful centerpieces, nice wall hangings- it was just gorgeous! I was once again double rushed here, but it wasn’t that big a deal for me. This was also a sit down party, and it really was a tea party! It was Alice-in-Wonderland themed, and super cute! I love tea, so I was happy as a clam. I remember discussing my schedule with my active, and life- we actually didn’t discuss too much sorority stuff. We discussed life. She was really nice, very sweet. After I mentioned my major, she pointed out another girl who shared my major in the skit. The skit was the story of Alice in Wonderland, but with Nessarose put in all over it. I don’t remember much conversation (this seems to be the theme of this day!), but it was fine. As I was going through, I felt like I was getting more of a feel for this chapter. They were very sweet girls, who were overall very diverse. There was no way to put these girls into a single class. It was nice.

Ranking today was super easy:

1. Elphaba
2. Nessarose

[true_blue]

Glad things were great at the chapters that you returned to! Several years ago we did a "alice in wonderland" tea party theme!! Small world

[lovespink88]

More please....?

[aggieadpi_01]

My rush thread addiction needs more...

[lsucajun8]

ditto

[breesquared]

AHHHH HURRY HURRY I NEED MORE!!!!
I'm sorry, this story is becoming a minor addiction.

[aephi alum]

The OP hasn't posted on this thread in nearly a week. She may have gotten the Dreaded Phone Call. If she feels comfortable doing so, she'll come back and update us.

[lovespink88]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

The OP hasn't posted on this thread in nearly a week. She may have gotten the Dreaded Phone Call. If she feels comfortable doing so, she'll come back and update us.

But this thread isn't live, if that's what you mean. I mean, I guess that's a still possibility. There's been other non-live threads where the PNM ends up bidless.

Also, I've seen the OP online, a few times since her last post here...

Come back, we're anxious to hear the rest!

[Smile_Awhile]

Hopefully tonight guys. 2nd semester just started up here- ben a busy few days.

What has been fun is that my cousin is going through recruitment right now. I'm living vicariously through her. :P

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by lovespink88

But this thread isn't live, if that's what you mean.

Oops, my bad

[Smile_Awhile]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

Oops, my bad

Totally fine. It is deferred recruitment season- my cousin is actually waiting on her bid right now. I'm agonizing with her.

But I went through recruitment last fall.

[Smile_Awhile]

For anyone interested, my cousin got her bid. She's a proud new Delta Zeta turtle! I'm very happy for her.

Day 3: Prefs!

I worked for a while making sure I looked good for this party. I had a beautiful black dress (yes, I blended in with the sisters), my hair was done well, my face was great- I felt super confident. Before we left for the parties, Darcy, Betty, and myself took a really cute picture of us in a line- unfortunately it didn’t turn out, but I still feel like it would have been a cute picture!

After another annoying (and nervewracking!) wait for my schedule, I finally got it…

Elphaba | Nessarose

I was super excited! A full schedule, and invites back to both houses. I was super excited about Elphaba’s party, and I was hopeful that I would get an even better feel for Nessarose. Darcy’s invites were to Elphaba and Glinda, as were Betty’s and Amanda’s. I was so hopeful that I might get to call those girls sisters.

First, the Elphaba party.

Elphaba: I don’t remember the décor for this party. I remember we had some kind of cake- it was very yummy! The sister was a senior or junior, and we also formed an immediate connection. At the beginning of the party, I noticed little “Chinese take out” style boxes in front of us, with our names on them. My active told me to open it. Inside were three notes, from sisters I had met during recruitment. All were extremely sweet, and talked about how much they loved me. I wanted to take it, but my active told me about “no taking things” rule. We had a good talk- mostly about majors and stuff, and I remember her mentioning a mutual friend that she loved. We then did the ceremony, as all the PNMs stood in a circle with their active behind them. All the parts were memorized- a wonderful touch, though it was clear the sisters had moments where they struggled for their line. That was okay though. Two sisters then sang a song, and another danced. While this could have gotten corny, it was really sweet and beautiful. It really tugged at my heart strings- I could just feel their bond. They then did what they called the pearl necklace. Each of our actives handed us a pearl (plastic, really…). The president then started around a string, and each PNM placed their pearl onto the string. It was really beautiful- until one of the actives dropped the string! We had quite a laugh about that. They got it all on there again though, and we finished. We still had more time to talk to our actives afterwards though. My active asked if I had made my decision. This was a really uncomfortable moment for me- I KNEW that I felt at home in Elphaba. But I still had Nessarose to go to, and I didn’t want to blow their party off. I told her that I still had a party to go to- but I felt very sure in my current preference. I strongly implied that this was a place I loved. Then the bell rang- she told me she hoped to see me tomorrow (Bid Day). I walked out of here with a decision intact, but I was trying my best to keep an open mind.

Nessarose: We walked in, and the same active that I had the day before picked me up. I was double rushed here again. We talked about everything but sorority life- our mutual love of sports, our nerd tendencies. We had a good conversation- but I wondered why none of it was about sorority life. We ate cake here too, which was DELICIOUS! My active had really cute shoes on too, which we talked about briefly. Then they did a ceremony. All the PNMs were seated in chairs, with the actives surrounding us in a circle. This ceremony was not memorized- that took points off for me. They sang a beautiful song- I believe it was called “In This Very Room.” I’ve Googled it since- it’s a Christian song, but they took the word Jesus and placed sisters. It worked- it was great. First, a big/little pair read letters to each other, which was very sweet. A sister told a story of how supportive her sisters were when her dad died. The president went through a list of all the things that the sisters loved doing together.- some of these things were interests of mine too. Right after that, they lit candles (which is technically a no-no- I didn’t know that then though!) and had us come forward and hold it as they lit it. We then placed it on a table in a line with the other PNMs candles. As they lit our candle, they said “(Insert Name Here) brings (adjective) to Nessarose.” While all of this was really sweet, there was this place in the pit of my stomach the entire time. It was like a giant ball of emotion. I wasn’t sure what emotion though- it finally hit me that this was not quite right for me- or at least that’s what I thought. I honestly can’t remember my adjective! After the ceremony, there were still a few minutes left- my active didn’t ask me any awkward questions, thank goodness. We then left.

We were required to walk back in silence- we were actually under strict silence. When we got back, the rules were explained to us- you should list all the groups you visited. You don’t absolutely have to- but it’s strongly encouraged. It was the only way that they could guarantee us a bid- if we maximized our options. We were then left to preffing.

This was an absolute struggle for me. I seriously considered listing a single group. Could I really see myself in the other house? Could I do it? Could I accept myself if I didn’t get a bid to my preferred house? I thought. And I thought.

I knew what I needed to do.

1. Elphaba
2. Nessarose


I was a bad PNM, and didn’t keep strict silence with Betty, Darcy, and Amanda. All of us preffed Elphaba first.

I looked up Elphaba’s national website that night. I thought about the girls I could meet in that house. I eventually got to sleep.

[KappaKittyCat]

Originally Posted by Smile_Awhile

For anyone interested, my cousin got her bid. She's a proud new Delta Zeta turtle! I'm very happy for her.

YAY!

They then did what they called the pearl necklace. Each of our actives handed us a pearl (plastic, really…). The president then started around a string, and each PNM placed their pearl onto the string. It was really beautiful- until one of the actives dropped the string! We had quite a laugh about that. They got it all on there again though, and we finished.

That sounds really gorgeous... and hilarious!

YAY for the new baby turtle!

[lovespink88]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

Oops, my bad

Hehe, no prob!