@ree-Xi I kept detailed notes.... And my floor mates and I took lots of pictures before each round!
To be honest, a lot about the rounds themselves (themes, outfits, etc) kind of run together, but the feelings have a way of burning themselves into your memory, don't they?
At my school, you pick up your bid in the morning, and then go to a general meeting spot that nigh after classes to be picked up by your sisters for new member activities and general fun times. Initially, I was disappointed by this. I thought that it would be much more fun to open your bid with all the other PNMs and then run to your sisters in one big happy crowd.
I'm exceptionally glad now that that wasn't the case for me, however, because my bid was to Scallop.
I'm not an overly emotional person. As you can probably surmise I'm very much a good vibes, bright side, go with the flow kind of person. But she I opened that bid I felt like I got punched in the stomach. I went through five stages of grief in about thirty seconds. I numbly signed it, went back to my room, and cried hysterically. Lilly was unsurprisingly unsympathetic, but my floor friends were amazing. One of my most pivotal moments of college was my two eventual suitemates sitting on my bed in silence for an hour, just being there for me when I needed it.
I know this all sounds so bratty since I had liked Scallop all along, and it definitely was. But I had my heart SET on Tellin. I knew a lot of the girls. I had really felt a connection and thought it was mutual. I had spent the night after pref googling Tellin apparel, and their philanthropy. I was humiliated that I would have to tell my mom, my best friends, and Boyfriend that a group of girls had auditioned me for friendship and found me lacking.
It was one of my future suitemates who convinced me to go to bid day. She had received a coveted bid to Scotch Bonnet. Her mom was a Scotch Bonnet and was one of those women who had sang her children Scotch Bonnet songs as lullabies and dressed them in "Future Scotch Bonnet" onesies. She wasn't super about Greek life, however, and had no use for tiers and drama. She reminded me that I had liked Scallop the entire time and owed it to them and myself to just go try it out.
So I did. And it wasn't easy. Frankly, my ego was bruised badly and I needed time to recover. I looked at the Tellin girls and wondered what they had that I didn't. I'd hear someone make a snide comment about tiers or how Scallop wasn't that great and wish I had never done this at all.
But it got better. In fact, it got AMAZING. My big was really who turned it all around for me: she is truly the big sister I have always wanted. The first time I hung out with her at the house, I thought, "If this girl loves Scallop, I can learn to love Scallop too." And I have.
It may not have been easy, but it's always been worth it. I'm happy and proud every day that I can call my blonde freckled Norts and flip flop wearing self a sister of.......
Theta Phi Alpha
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