A Mani/Pedi Recruitment

[aesovs]

When I got back my schedule for Skit, it looked like this:

1. Hen Party
2. Aston
3. Lara's Theme
4. Boom Boom Pow

I was absolutely devastated that Tea With the Queen dropped me, especially considering that it was a legacy. Even though Jaffa and Rosie Lee were legacies too, I hadn't clicked there as well as I did at Tea With the Queen. It was just really tough. I was a little upset about Let's Plie too, but I kind of felt that one coming. I was excited to have Hen Party and Lara's Theme back, though! I could easily see myself at either house!

Now, on to the skits...

1. Hen Party: The girl rushing me was one of the girls I had for Philanthropy Day, and I absolutely loved her! She remembered me, too! We had a pretty good conversation - definitely no awkward pauses. Their skit was so funny it had me in tears! After that, I absolutely knew that if I made it to pref, they were my #1 choice.

2. Aston: I had a pretty good time here. Not nearly as good as Hen Party, but I definitely came out of the house thinking I could see myself there. I didn't have a whole lot in common with the girl that rushed me, so it got a little awkward at times, but she was really sweet and actually ended up being in their skit, which was hilarious! I would really, really like to be invited back!

3. Lara's Theme: Today, this house wasn't as fantastic to me as it had been in previous rounds. The girl that rushed me seemed disinterested in me, although she could've just been really tired. I struggled really hard to make conversation, and I felt like I was rushing her instead of the other way around. Their skit also wasn't my favorite...it just kind of missed the mark for me. I left thinking that I would definitely go back if asked, but that it might not be as perfect a fit as I thought it was originally.

4. Boom Boom Pow: I don't really know how to feel about this house. The girl that rushed me was fabulous - I seriously had the most refreshingly real conversation with her. I felt really comfortable talking and didn't feel like I had to put on a façade like I did at some of the other houses. Their skit, however, was just really not funny. The drink they served was sublime, but I had a really hard time watching the skit. I got the feeling that the other girls at the party felt the same. Despite my wonderful conversation, I felt pretty sure that I wouldn't want to come back to this house.

At the end of the day, I could rank three houses as my top choices and one as my bottom choice. I ranked them like this:

Top
1. Hen Party
2. Aston
3. Lara's Theme

Bottom
1. Boom Boom Pow

We're coming into the home stretch...pref is next!!

[aesovs]

When I got my schedule for preference day, it looked like this:

1. Boom Boom Pow

I almost cried. I'm usually not a very outwardly emotional person, but it was just really hard for me to have every single one of my favorites drop me...and to have the one house I'd tried to drop invite me back. I tried to take this in stride, because I knew it probably meant that they really wanted me, but I still walked into the house feeling kind of numb.

When I got to the house, the girls sang a slow song instead of a door song, which was nice. The girl who rushed me was nice enough, but I just wasn't feeling a connection. They showed a nice sisterhood video and a few of the senior girls spoke, but I just wasn't feeling attached. I was about to cry, but mostly because I didn't know what to do. I wasn't sure whether or not I even wanted to go to ranking. I figured I could always drop out and try again next year, or even go for the sorority that was colonizing that year. After a few agonizing hours of deliberation, I decided to go ahead and sign a bid card. I thought that maybe I would warm up to the house during my pledge period, and if I didn't that I could drop.

At the end of the day, I ranked my one and only option left:

1. Boom Boom Pow

and I hoped to God that I wouldn't go bidless.

[aesovs]

So...today's the big day! Honestly, I was just ready for rush to be over. I knew that if I didn't get a call from my Rho Chi that I'd have a bid from Boom Boom Pow waiting for me. I still wasn't sure how to feel. I cried once I got home from my pref party and everything still kind of felt surreal.

I didn't get a call, so I got ready and went down to the stadium to get my bid from Boom Boom Pow, otherwise known as...

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GAMMA PHI BETA!!!!!!

[aesovs]

Now that it's been a few months, I've had time to grow into Gamma Phi. The fabulous girl who rushed me on Skit Day is now my big, and I wouldn't trade her for anything! I had a rough time as a pledge adjusting to the house - I spent a lot of time thinking that I didn't belong there. Bid Day was really bittersweet for me, and I carried that feeling with me for awhile into pledgeship. But everything clicked with me at some point (honestly, I don't remember when). I can't see myself as a proud member of Hen Party or Lara's Theme, although incidentally that's what my roommates are, respectively. I can't see myself walking into any other house looking a complete mess and still feeling comfortable. And I know for a fact that my sorority has one of the best and strongest sisterhoods on campus - I know each and every one of my sisters, at least by face if not by name. I don't know a girl in any other house who can say that.

As a now-active member, I have some advice for girls whose rush doesn't turn out exactly as they planned: stick with it. I can promise you that most of the time, your attitude will determine whether or not you love your new house. Stay positive and stay involved and I can guarantee you'll find your place. There's so much diversity in each chapter that if you make an effort, you'll find your group of friends.