Transfer Recruitment Story

[*winter*]

The fun started for me when I got my Big. Until then, it was just kind of a blur of pledge (yeah- I'm old! LOL!) meetings and crafting events. We did a lot of get to know you, but I'm kind of shy so it took me longer to feel at home.

The bonds come from shared experiences- when you start studying with these girls, eating meals with them, meeting up at the gym and doing things on the weekends, you will begin to really feel like part of the group. Silly college things like group study sessions for midterms or late night trips to the 24 hour store or diner. Take every opportunity to be social with the girls, not only at the sorority events, but outside of them. Try to find a niche or group you feel comfortable with, or some other new members.

If all this happens and you still don't...you can decide what you want to do the .

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by *winter*

The fun started for me when I got my Big. Until then, it was just kind of a blur of pledge (yeah- I'm old! LOL!) meetings and crafting events.

This!

I have a horrible memory anyway, but what I remember the least of my collegiate sorority experience was my pledge period. It really is such a weird time, especially the first few weeks. You get a bid, you celebrate with people you don't even know, you're told to find a white dress, you go through a ceremony that you don't even fully understand, and you find yourself just kind of going through the motions. It's like settling into any new place; it's a little exciting, a little frightening, and you spend half your time trying to figure out what's going on and the other half trying to be sure you don't make a fool of yourself.

Eventually, though, you'll settle in, find some friends, learn about your sorority and what it means to be a part of one, and before you know it, the next group of new members will be going through their first ritual ceremony, and you'll laugh to yourself as you're reminded of how confused you were when you were in their shoes.

Just give it some time.

[DubaiSis]

I think you're doing just fine. What I'm reading from all this is "I am exhausted and really don't know what to feel but I'm smart enough to not do anything stupid right now." And that is all good. On GC we get a lot of OMG this is the best thing EVER and OMG I just got pledged into the worst sorority that every existed, and not a whole lot in between. And real life is, of course, in the middle. As you continue to share your thoughts and feelings over the coming weeks (and I hope you do), hopefully some future rushees will learn that in real life there are no unicorns pooping rainbows. It is NOT instant friends and it's not all smooth as silk. But it can be very very good if you let it be.

[ALynnJ]

Our pinning ceremony got pushed back to Wednesday. But Mandy texted me to invite me Greek lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays during activity hour (I said I'd try because I don't have Tuesday or Thursday classes so I'm not normally on campus) and my Big Turtle (hint hint) invited me to watch our homecoming partners, Kappa Sig, play dodgeball. I went and in this low key situation I felt a lot more comfortable. It was because I no longer had to try so hard to impress people. I can totally see myself as a Delta Zeta!

But (and of course, there has to be a "but"), my dad isn't game. He saw that I was upset about getting dropped by Daisy and said he wasn't going to help me pay because "this sorority thing" was putting me through unnecessary stress. My parents aren't Greek: my mom never went to college and my dad went to community college and online university so they don't realize that it's stressful, even if you have a "perfect" recruitment. My mom seems really curious about the whole thing (she even wanted to take the notepad I got in my bid bag). I talked to my Big Turtle and some of the other DZs and a few of them said that they went through similar situations with their parents. They told me that once their parents saw how happy they were, they came around.

[AOII Angel]

I agree with your sisters. Dads don't like seeing their daughters get hurt, but recruitment is a chance to really experience real life ups and downs and to grow through the experience. If you come out stronger on the other side with a group of great friends, I think your dad will see the difference.


ETA: Congratulations to you and Delta Zeta!

[TiareNoire]

Oh, wow. Another Delta Zeta ending! I really hope this works out for you! Congratulations on your bid.

[ALynnJ]

My situation has actually inspired me to become a recruitment counselor. Maybe not next year because I'm interested in learning about the sisterhood side of recruitment, but I feel like I'd be good at calming down girls who get heartbroken. I didn't talk to my recruitment counselors about my situation because I'm more of an independent, reflect-upon-my-decisions person, but I like helping others solve their problems.

[pinksequins]

ALynnJ, first, congratulations on joining Delta Zeta! DZ has a wonderful new member. From your posts I predict that you will be a very engaged and happy sister for a long time and we will hear from you often on GC. Continue to have fun, chill and find your home. I foresee many good stories that you'll have to share.