Game of Thrones - A barely retro recruitment story

[cebrain]

I am a huge Game of Thrones fan...can't wait to see which dragon prevails.

[kitekat]

Mere hours after Preference, Linda and I were getting a little ahead of ourselves at the mall picking out outfits that we might wear to our first chapter meetings. There was a great pair of nude heels that I’d been eyeballing for a long time, but I never thought I’d have a good opportunity to wear them. I tried them on just for funsies, and imagined myself someday walking out of Viserion's front door and wearing their letters. Sold! As Linda and I were walking out of the shoe store, I got a phone call from our Rho Chi.

I did not receive a bid and was released from recruitment.

I was crushed. How could this have happened? I had such a great time at Viserion and they invited me to Pref. Why would I be invited to Pref if they had no intention of extending a bid to me?

The next day Linda went on to receive her bid from Viserion. She was thrilled. I was happy for her, of course, but also very hurt that I didn’t have the same happy ending. I spent the rest of the semester watching her go to socials, attend new member meetings, and getting her big sis.

But Linda ended up not going through with initiation as she decided that she wanted to transfer to another school next semester.

[kitekat]

For a few weeks after recruitment, I felt lost. But I picked my self up and started looking for other ways to keep myself busy. I got a part time job at the shoe store, and joined the women’s rugby club on campus. Even though I had plenty to distract myself with, I wasn’t entirely satisfied. Greek life was always nagging at me in the back of my mind. Maybe I had made a mistake by SIPing. Should I have given Drogon a chance? Would it have been better to be a Drogon than to not be Greek at all?

Being a part of a rugby team was a fantastic experience. Sisterhood, schmisterhood! My team had become my family. I convinced myself that it was for the best that I was dropped from recruitment, otherwise I would never have found rugby. I also wouldn’t have found my future roommate, Kristin, who also happened to be a Drogon.

One evening the next fall, Kristin invited me to a formal meal at Drogon. Why not? It was a free meal, and I wasn’t about to turn down free food. Most of the awkward girls I had met at recruitment the previous year had either graduated or dropped out of the organization. They were still a quirky bunch, but I ended up having a great time! After the meal, they invited my to one of their COB events the following week.

[kitekat]

And that was that. I joined Drogon, which of course is KAPPA ALPHA THETA, and finally had my happy ending!

I immersed myself into Greek life and went to every meeting, event, and social that I could. I met so many great friends, including my best friend who was also in my pledge class, and got the most perfect Big! But most importantly, I learned after my initiation that being Greek means a whole lot more than just having a fun social life. Your membership is what you make of it. I can honestly say that my membership in Theta has made me an all around better woman and I wouldn't trade my collegiate experience for the world.

Looking back, I had gone through recruitment with a rather shallow mindset. But at the time I didn’t realize all of the great benefits that being a part of ANY Greek organization gives you. I grew to love my chapter, of course, but I also loved being a part of the larger Greek community! My advice to PNMs: Accepting your last choice IS better than not being Greek at all!

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by kitekat

Most of the awkward girls I had met at recruitment the previous year had either graduated or dropped out of the organization.

I'd bet that some were awkward during formal recruitment and awesome in other settings, too. That's one of the biggest challenges for some chapters, IMO, just conforming to the formal recruitment system.

[KYKAT]

Great story. Glad you found your Theta home too!

[kitekat]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I'd bet that some were awkward during formal recruitment and awesome in other settings, too. That's one of the biggest challenges for some chapters, IMO, just conforming to the formal recruitment system.

I think that was definitely the case for some girls!