As I was choosing a college my senior year of high school, one thing that stood out to me was greek life. I decided to go to the smaller of my two top schools so that I could rush a sorority. I spent the summer working at a summer camp in New York, which would both build my potential new member application and make me interesting to active members. I also graduated with a 3.6 GPA, which was bound to help me during recruitment. I did my homework and read about each of the four sororities in both their chapter pages for my school and in their national websites. While looking thoroughly at each individual sorority, one immediately stood out to me: Sorority Z. This became the sorority I dreamed about for the remainder of the summer. I loved the values their organization prioritized and how important their philanthropy was to them. As recruitment got closer, I was eager to meet the sororities and see which one I clicked with best. I hoped, of course, that it would be Sorority Z, the one I already loved.
My school holds a convocation at our student center the night before recruitment begins, which is like an open house to meet a few members of each sorority. I went in, talked to the other three sororities for about 10 minutes, and, though still keeping an open mind, didn't feel a connection with any of them. Then, as I shyly walked to Sorority Z's table, a small, outgoing girl came over to me. She introduced herself and asked what my major was. As I said "English", she practically jumped with joy as she said "mine too!" I spent close to 15 amazing minutes talking to the same girl in Sorority Z, and I hoped with all my heart she would be the one to talk to me during recruitment the following night.
The first night of recruitment had arrived. Since it was the first night, all potential new members would go to all four "houses". There are no traditional "houses" at my school, so recruitment is held at a venue, with four separate rooms referred to as "houses". My Rho Gamma, or recruitment counselor handed each girl in my group her schedule. When I got mine, I was disappointed. Sorority Z was last on my schedule, meaning it would be the last house I went to. I would be tired, my makeup worn off, and my feet would be exhausted from the wedges I wore. However, I stayed positive and hoped to make a good impression not just to Sorority Z, but on the others as well.
The first three parties I went to were okay. I had decent, good, and bad conversations in all three. Then, it was time. Time to see if Sorority Z could be my home. The doors opened, and each potential new member had an active member hook arms with them and walk them to a table. That first conversation was short, but the girl and I got along. Then, it was time to talk to another girl. I was a bit discouraged since it was not the girl I'd clicked the night before, but I also clicked with this one. She was also hispanic, shared my drive to succeed and even had a similar major! We talked about how important grades were to us, and about our favorite television shows. This was the second girl to make me fall in love with Sorority Z. At this point, I was sure I could be a good fit. Except, turns out, I wasn't.
The next night of recruitment came, and I had been dropped from Sorority Z. I cried in my dorm that night, wondering why my high GPA, two years of summer jobs, varsity choir, and amazing conversations with the girls weren't enough. I knew the other sororities I had left were not the best fits for me, but I accepted a bid from Sorority Y anyway. On preference night, I'd realized that, though I still wanted to be a part of Sorority Z, I could make Sorority Y my home. To this day, I still sometimes dream of being a "Sorority Z", throwing up their hand symbol and wearing those letters and colors. However, in Sorority Y, I learned to make the best of what I have. Because no matter how much I loved Sorority Z, they did not choose me. Sorority Y did.
