What surprised you most on the other side of rush/recruitment?

[aephi alum]

I was surprised by just how much goes on behind the scenes. I kind of figured the sorority members weren't just sitting around with their feet up when there wasn't a party going on, but I didn't quite realize that my sisters and I would be running around like chickens without heads, changing out decorations, making sure snacks and drinks were set, doing membership selection, etc.

I didn't realize how SICK AND TIRED I would be of certain songs by the end of rush!! The songs stuck in the PNMs' heads, which was a good thing, but I did NOT need "Hey Look Us Over" running through my head while desperately trying to get some sleep in the 4 or 5 hours I had.

I surprised myself with my conversation skills. I've always been an introvert, and I had to overcome that during rush and carry on convos with all kinds of different PNMs (including a straight-up psycho) - and I did it! This experience really helped me outside the rush room too.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by aephi alum

I surprised myself with my conversation skills. I've always been an introvert, and I had to overcome that during rush and carry on convos with all kinds of different PNMs (including a straight-up psycho) - and I did it! This experience really helped me outside the rush room too.

THIS.

I am also an introvert and the thought of having to talk to that many strangers about basically anything was so scary at first.

You surprise yourself with how natural it becomes.

I can now talk to anyone about just about anything. lol.

[Alumiyum]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

THIS.

I am also an introvert and the thought of having to talk to that many strangers about basically anything was so scary at first.

You surprise yourself with how natural it becomes.

I can now talk to anyone about just about anything. lol.

I third this. I can add that to the list of things I learned from joining my sorority...how to talk to strangers. It's still not my favorite thing, but I can definitely handle it now.

[angels&angles]

Originally Posted by Alumiyum

I third this. I can add that to the list of things I learned from joining my sorority...how to talk to strangers. It's still not my favorite thing, but I can definitely handle it now.

Fourth it. I used to HATE talking to strangers. I would do anything not to be the one to call the pizza delivery place. Now it's no big deal at all.

[Xylochick216]

I agree with the orchestrations behind the scenes. I had no idea how intentional meeting certain people was. From the PNM perspective, I thought we just happened to find sisters who weren't talking to other people or who the rusher thought would have something in common. I was also surprised at how much I learned to trust my recruitment group. We helped each other remember things and were a great support for each other.

[thetygerlily]

Originally Posted by angels&angles

Fourth it. I used to HATE talking to strangers. I would do anything not to be the one to call the pizza delivery place. Now it's no big deal at all.

Ha, I had no choice growing up- my older brother wouldn't make a phone call to save his life, so I was the official phone person. I distinctly recall making a call to inquire about subwoofers at age 10. However- phone's always been easy, in person is another story!

I was also surprised at how much harder it was to talk to people when I was an active. When you're a clueless PNM, it's not as big of a deal. But when you are an active, everything you do & say is being evaluated (or so you think), you have to share information about the chapter without crossing any lines, you have to steer the conversation away from the Bs, you have to get to know the person, form a quick personal rapport... There's just so much that goes into every single aspect of recruitment from the active's point of view.