I am no longer new. I no longer have to eat at the dining hall, or stay in the dorms. I no longer have the privilege of waking up ten minutes before class starts and make it there on time. I no longer have to use my GPS to get anywhere around a new town. I am no longer afraid. I have a year of college under my belt, and a semester of being in a sorority down. I am now on the other side.

My mom didn’t cry as much when I drove away from my small house as I headed for my college town two weeks early for sorority recruitment practice. It was like it was routine. I am home for a few months during the summer, and then I am off for a few more months to deal with school. It wasn’t the easiest goodbye, but me being so far away from home is becoming more painless. Even parting ways with my friends wasn’t as dramatic as the first time.

Decorating my new apartment by myself, and not being lost when trying to find my classes takes away the excitement of sophomore year, but being on the other side of sorority recruitment has been an experience to say the least. I joined my sorority in the second semester of my freshman year (spring rush), so I didn’t get to take part of the stressful and elaborate activities fall recruitment.

I had to arrive two weeks before classes start to get ready for a whole new pledge class. The days started at 9 a.m. and ended late hours of the night until everything was perfected. All of the sisters worked diligently to put together nametags, tee shirts, songs, and decorations to ensure the best pledge class. Learning new chants, standing in heels, and lack of sleep is all worth it in the end when you get to watch all your hard work pay off when watching all the new girls running down Greek row. During this week I learned so much about myself, and made deeper connections with all of my sisters.

I am now on the other side of college. As a sophomore, I can now share my experiences and advice to not only my new sisters, but also the other freshmen on campus. All of the commitments of recruitment practices will lead me to finding a perfect little sister to share ice cream with, my shoulder when she needs to cry, and my obtained knowledge of college life.