My Unique Recruitment Story

[Calliope]

Ok, before I let my trainwreck rush continue, I want to explain something. My school was very very small and the Greek Life, while prevalent on campus, really wasn't that big of a deal. I never had any recommendations - I didn't know that such a thing existed for greek life and it was never mentioned by the greek life office. Even if I had, the only person I knew in any sorority was my Gryffindor cousin from Year 1 (but of course I didn't know that until I went to the Gryffindor rush party, so I wouldn't have asked her anyway.) I had a cousin at another school who was also greek, but her GLO wasn't on my campus anyway.

Another thing that made my initial "no-pref" rush so shocking was that at the orientation meeting it was made clear that every girl who had ever gone through rush since greek life started on my campus (maybe about 10 years before I rushed the first time) had received a bid. So when I was dropped, I was absolutely shocked, but moreso hurt than anything else. Life goes on, after all, but feelings can't be glossed over and sometimes stick with you, especially if you're a little insecure and shy to begin with!

But anyway, I digress. I'm not that person anymore and I'm over what had happened to me. I won't lie, but it did take a long long while. I've already said that the story isn't over yet, and believe me - it will actually get worse before it gets any better.

So without any more delay, here's my next installment. (I feel like there needs to be some kind of telenovela type music or something!)

-------------------



I think I had mentioned before that I was on softball scholarship. We had a new coach this year who didn’t care that rush was this week and had scheduled practices that coincided with the end of formal rush. Since I was on the team and on scholarship, I had to make my way to the diamond for a practice right in the middle of the pref party. I had to get there in time or else risk some real trouble!

Greta tells me that I will have 0% chance to receive a bid if I don’t go to the pref party. I know if I don’t go I’m done. I decide that my best bet is to go and stay for as long as I can, and explain to the sisters immediately why I can’t stay for the whole thing. I decide I have to try, so that is what I do.

The pref party at Slytherin is beautiful. It’s an entire sit down gourmet dinner (at least my school cafeteria standards). There are flowers everywhere and the student lounge is transformed into a ballroom, complete with a tastefully handmade gold cardboard chandelier. (Maybe my memory has exaggerated this a little bit, but I do remember it really was beautiful.)

While I had a great time at the party, in my heart of hearts, I just don’t see myself as a Slytherin. I still believe I’m truly a Hufflepuff, but they don’t want me so I might as well make lemons out of lemonade. I don’t let on, but I do apologize to the Slytherins that I have to leave for practice, and I get going. On the way out, my Rho Chi meets me and has me sign a pref card. Against my better judgment, I list Slytherin first because they actually preffed me. Then I put Hufflepuff, and finally Gryffindor.

The next morning I’m awake really early. Today is Bid Day! Just as I’m getting ready to leave for the student center, my phone rings. (If you think you know what comes next, you’re probably right.) I pick it up, and it’s Greta. She tells me that she’s awfully sorry, but I shouldn’t come to bid day because I have not received a bid. I start crying on the phone right there.

I’m almost hysterical. I don’t need friends. I don’t need to feel better about myself. I don’t NEED to join a sorority to be happy. However, it’s something I want to do and it’s something special I need to be a part of! I’m inconsolable and I’m pretty sure I’m hiccupping as I’m talking to her. I’ve always been the perfect kid who did what everyone else wanted her to do and never did anything for herself. This was something I wanted to do for myself, regardless of how my mother didn't really want me to do it. I didn’t care about prestige or social status. I wanted to be a part of something that connected me to women like me across the country and throughout history. I wanted to be ME.

Greta is obviously uncomfortable. She tells me she doesn’t have any other phone calls to make but that I can try informal rush in the Fall. Thanks, Greta. That really makes me feel better...again Not.

------------------------

Don’t worry, the story STILL doesn’t end there. But like I said, it got worse before it got better!!