I won’t lie. I came to George Mason University as a freshman and was scared. It was three weeks in and girls on my floor were going out for sorority recruitment. I’d thought about doing it, but kept chickening out. At one point I even registered for it. But when the time came for recruitment weekend to start, I chickened out and never went. I was still so new to campus, to college, to the whole “being a mini adult” life. I came into college with preconceived notions of what sorority life is from movies and TV, just like a lot of people do. I swore to myself that I wasn’t the “sorority type” and that I wouldn’t fit in. I watched my floor mates and friends around me go out for recruitment, and in the end, they found their forever home. I watched as they got their Bigs, their letters, and their sisters. When Spring semester rolled around, I told myself it was time to get the courage to at least go out for a recruitment event.

Yet, as I walked up to the doors of the Johnson Center to go to the recruitment event, I still needed that extra push, literally--my boyfriend had to push me in!

After experiencing that Spring Recruitment event, I realized it wasn’t so scary after all. And then soon enough, I found my forever home with Pi Beta Phi.

You see, everyone’s recruitment experience is going to be different. Maybe for me, It was good that I waited until spring, because I don’t think I was ready looking back. But at the same time, maybe I should have gone for it, because it would have been taking a step out of my comfort zone.

Many of you are about to take the leap and find your forever home this coming Fall Recruitment--and I’m so glad you are.

What I’ve realized from all the preparing we sisters are doing is that going through this recruitment is going to put you out of your comfort zone--which is a good thing. You’re going to talk to so many amazing and different people, and you will probably learn a thing or two from each of them. You are also going to grow as a person, and you may learn things you didn’t know about yourself. College is the time in your life where you discover yourself and what you want, and recruitment can be a big step towards this. I realized I wanted something that was bigger than campus life, and would stick by my side for the rest of my life.

I realize recruitment is scary, for both the potential new members going through it and for the sisters as well. I know for me this is my first formal recruitment from any side of it--and I’m so nervous! I myself don’t know what to say or do, so realize you’re not alone in this possible nerve-wracking leap you’re taking. Looking back, I almost wish I did Fall Recruitment, because experiencing something new is never a bad thing. In the end, you will come out of recruitment a better person, and you’ll also come out of it with a new home and a lot of loving sisters. You will have something bigger than campus life and bigger than yourself. You will have an organization of loving girls who will be bridesmaids at your wedding, and attendees at your retirement party. You will have alumni’s who will help you land interviews and jobs. You will have an endless amount of support from girls all over the country who want to see their sisters achieve their dreams and goals.

If you’re doubting yourself or the idea of going out for recruitment--just do it! There’s no harm in trying something new. Just be you, and you will be loved, no doubt about it.