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Working the System
Joining AOII has been the best decision I’ve made at Miami. A bold statement I know, considering most Greeks will claim the same thing about his or her organization; despite the cliché, I really believe it to be true. My rush experience was difficult (another original commentary you won’t hear anywhere else). To be honest, after mundane, awkward and occasionally excellent conversations; the seeking of approval, hoping, wishing, crying, celebrating, and all the other emotions that go into rush, I wasn’t completely sold on the system. On the fateful Sunday known as Bid Day, among girls literally screaming and running up and down the hallways, I held my bid in my hands and thought there had been a mistake. The friends I had grown close to over first semester had ended up in different houses, none of my friends from back home were offered the same bid at their respective schools, and it wasn’t the house I had set my hopes on. I was devastated, confused, and ready to abandon Greek life. I am beyond thankful that I didn’t. An older sister noticing my lack of enthusiasm offered to meet for dinner to talk about how I was feeling. We went to Alexander, coincidentally both hers and my favorite dining hall. This sister didn’t make me feel uncomfortable about my doubt in an organization she clearly loved, she wasn’t trying to force me into something that wasn’t for me; she was just concerned in helping me make the right decision. The conversation naturally flowed to our shared addiction of vegetarian food, long-distance relationships, concerts, and finally the boys we were currently obsessing over. She even invited me to her birthday party that coming weekend. I clicked with this girl, and even if she was the only AOII that was so similar to me, it became clear that if she loved the girls, I probably would too. From that point forward, I knew I had ended up in the right place. Needless to say, she wasn’t the only one I got along with. As I got to know both the initiated sisters and girls in my pledge class, I fell in love over and over again. The older sisters have gone out of their way to make my pledge class and I feel more than welcome. I am continually reminded of how loved I am and invited to lunches, dinners, parties and socials daily. The girls in my pledge class are just as welcoming, and we laugh together every day whether that be at POTH practice or as we text about who we think our big will be or when we send pictures of what we are wearing out. I have never felt like I belonged at Miami more than I have in the few weeks since rush. I have transformed from a skeptic to a full-fledged advocate. I can’t wait for the bevy of AOII events ahead of me, but more importantly I look forward to strengthening the bonds I have already began to forge with the sisters I almost dismissed. For all those who told me before and during rush, “It all works out, just be yourself,”(and trust me there were more than a few of you) you were right. So next fall when the freshmen start following the road still in my rear-view mirror, I’ll be the one handing out the “Go Greek” fliers insisting they trust the system and be themselves, just as you all did before me. Mariah is a freshman studying marketing and writing rhetoric. You may contact her at mariah.kline@gmail.com.
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