Sorority recruitment is a time of stress, sleep deprivation, and lots and lots of caffeine. At some point, you'll probably be talking to a girl who does not want to be talking to you, and you will have to chant, sing, and clap bigger and louder than you ever have before. You will be an emotional mess and you will be heartbroken when your rush crush doesn't come back the next day. Despite all this madness, recruitment is and always will be worth the rush (get it?).

I like to tell people that going through recruitment as a potential new member was the most physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting weekend of my life. And while this is still true, being on the other side is all this plus the work week and the extra time spent before and after the start of each day. You put so much time and effort into planning and practicing the "girl flirt." While this is so exhausting, it's actually a kind of awesome experience when you really think about it. It's awesome because you're inviting women to join your sisterhood, you're giving them a very short sneak peak into the special bond that you share with all the amazing women in the room. It's actually very special.

All the planning, the clapping, the chanting, the lost voices, the exhaustion is completely worth it on bid day when you see those new sisters running towards you. It's worth it when the girls you talked to all weekend hug you and scream because they are so excited to be your sister. You take pictures and learn everyone's names and you all go to your bid day activity together. You pass along what you know to these women; they are the future of your house, they are the legacy you're leaving behind. They will become your little sis, the next exec board and leaders of your house. These women who YOU recruited are the future of your house.

That is why recruitment is so important. It's not about the decorations, the videos, the speeches, or even the outfits. It's about the the women you're recruiting because they are the legacy you're leaving behind for future generations.

This recruitment season when you think you're going to pass out because those espresso shots did absolutely nothing or that red bull just wasn't enough, just remember who you're doing this for: your chapter, your house, your sisters, and your legacy.