old and new recruitment story

[legacymom]

As the only child of older parents, I knew next to nothing about sororities when I entered a major southern university many moons ago. I must have expressed some interest in rush because my parents said I had to wait until I was a sophomore, but I don't recall it being a huge issue. When I moved into my dorm with my roomate who also had skipped recruitment, I felt a bit left out - our dorm had been one of the recruitment dorms, and almost every door on our hall was decorated with owls, lions, keys or other symbols plus bright streamers. I soon got to be good friends with neighbors who had joined a house that many girls from my high school joined. They explained to me that their house had met quota (which meant nothing to me), but began inviting me to informal events, and then to their pledge formal and winter formal. I was absolutely convinced that I would rush the next year and pledge this house.

But in early spring other friends from high school invited me to Spring recruitment for a sorority that had just colonized. Initially I declined the invitations, but agreed to go because my roomate wanted me to go with her. Before I knew it I was swept up in the excitement, and when they extended me a bid I accepted. Being part of a new, smaller sorority was a struggle on a competetive campus, but I wouldn't trade the great experiences I had. When my oldest daughter entered the same school several years ago I was thrilled that my chapter was thriving, and that it was a good option for her. Second daughter has also been excited about attending the same school and going through recruitment, but has been wait-listed by the school. Her second choice school is a good size campus with strong greek life, but only 7 sororities, and my house is not one of them. Looking forward to posting her story - hoping she will find the house that is right for her.