There were two major things that I was looking to get out of college: I wanted to be involved and build a community on campus. In high school, I was on the Girls Lacrosse team, the Speech and Debate team and I also Co-Founded my own chapter of a global non-profit called “Days4Girls”. I loved getting to know new people and building relationships. Those two things led to me to move halfway across the country from Saint Louis, MO, to attend Arizona State University (ASU).
Although I was so excited to go to ASU, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little terrified to leave everything I had ever known. Going to college is scary, but going to a school where I only knew three other people was even scarier. That’s when I began to think about going through sorority recruitment.
Some of my older friends had joined sororities, but I wasn’t completely sure what it meant to be a member. I researched the recruitment process and sorority life and was still a little apprehensive. When I got to school, I asked my friends and women in my dorm how they were feeling about recruitment. Their attitudes were similar to my nervous yet excited. Seeing that I was not alone in how I felt helped me to decide to go through recruitment.
I was extremely nervous at first, but my Recruitment Counselors helped me feel confident going into every round. I really enjoyed talking to the women in all the different chapters, and they made me feel welcome at my new school. As recruitment progressed, I began to feel more comfortable, and I absolutely loved it by the end. I believe that recruitment was one of my most insightful experiences about myself and my college.
I could have seen myself in many of the wonderful chapters at my school. Each chapter had something that made their sisterhood unique. I started to fall in love with the Panhellenic community. But one chapter, Delta Gamma, began to stick out to me. The women I talked to during recruitment had a kind-hearted nature. I could see myself thriving in the chapter with a supportive group of women and leadership opportunities. I ended up running home to Delta Gamma on Bid Day. Bid Day will be a core memory that I will forever hold close to my heart.
After Bid Day, I met new women at sorority events and new member meetings. Getting to know their stories made me feel accepted and inspired. During this time, I also began meeting women in other chapters who I shared my Panhellenic experiences with.
I think that one of the best parts about joining a sorority was feeling like I was a part of something. Especially as an out-of-state student at a big school, it was a great feeling to know that I had many leadership opportunities ahead of me. Joining Panhellenic made ASU feel like a home away from home.
In November of my sophomore year, I applied to be on my school’s Panhellenic Executive Council, and a few interviews later, I was elected as the Vice President of Marketing. My story came full circle. I remembered reading the Panhellenic Recruitment Booklet as a potential new member, but as the vice president of Marketing, I became the one who made that booklet for the next group of PNMs to look at. It was a rewarding experience to be able to give back to the sorority community that I loved so much.
If I had let my nerves about sorority recruitment get the best of me, I would not be who I am today. I could not imagine my college experience without my Panhellenic sisters. I encourage everyone to give recruitment a try; the sisterhood and beautiful experiences are truly unmatched!
