I firmly believe that everyone and their mother knows that I love The Hunger Games Trilogy much, much more than the average person. I can quote the first movie like it's my job after watching it so many times and have read the books and watched the movies over seven times each at least. I'm not going to spoil anything (even though the last book came out in 2010 but you know, not my business) except I will say the last movie is super fun for the whole family! Prim for one sure has a real blast! It's a true feel-good movie, but while I can talk about why I absolutely love The Hunger Games for hours and hours and hours on end, that's not the purpose of this post.

For a while this has been in my head, and no, the reasons have nothing to do with the actual Hunger Games where twelve to eighteen-year-old's fight to the death in an arena. No, what I want to focus on is more the preparation that the tributes underwent before the Games and what happened after the Games were over (sort of).

Here's my list of how recruitment is a lot like The Hunger Games, but not in the ways you think.

1.) The Stylists.

This one may seem odd but hear me out. I have now been and will be on both sides of recruitment so I know what each is like. For the side of the actives, we have those in charge of recruitment coming up with attire for each rush event, whether it be letters and dark wash jeans with boots or a recruitment t-shirt with leggings and converse in the way Cinna and Portia designed the outfits for Katniss and Peeta before and after the Games , especially Katniss. The outfits are designed to convey a sense of unity within the chapter and to make it well known who the active members are in case of questions or anything of the like, similar to Katniss wearing the dress after the Games to make her seem innocent after the stunt with the nightlock.

Now, on the other side with the Potential New Members, or PNMs, we have a similar but different take on the stylists. There are articles all over the internet on recommended PNM attire for rush, from the shoes to the hair and makeup. This is to help the PNMs shine bright in a room with other PNMs all hoping for a bid to their hopeful sorority. By dressing nicely to stand out, they are hoping to get the active sisters (sponsors) to want them in their organization and give them a bid, just like how the tributes wanted sponsors in case they needed a helping hand.

2.) The Sponsors.

Similar to the stylists, sponsors are also seen in recruitment as mentioned above. Active members want the PNMs to like them so they want to join, as seen in those recruitment videos that have been circling the internet to make PNMs excited about rush and want to get involved in Greek Life on their campuses. Similarly, PNMs want a bid so they want the active members to like them as well to give them a bid, just like how the tributes were told to make the sponsors like them in case they needed water, food, or a source of heat if they were freezing.

In the words of Haymitch Abernathy, "I don't know how else to say this: Make sure they remember you".

3.) Training before the Games.

Again, no, it's not what you think. No training to fight to the death to be the victor. Just a lot of practice and learning.

Older active members have to train the former new members on how to do recruitment to get more new members. When they rushed, again in Haymitch's words, it was "child's play". Now they're the ones trying to get people to join, and for the older members it's just a refresher course, like the first few days of school to get back in the swing of things. I won't give away all the secrets and tricks of the trade, but I think recruitment training is it's own type of tribute training for our Hunger Games.

4.) All the small talk.

You know how during the training and on the train, katniss and Peeta have many small conversations with each other and other tributes with a few silences because according to them, all these other tributes are threats? This is especially seen in Catching Fire with Katniss and Finnick but the small talk continues in recruitment, though not because everyone's a threat, another way this list is definitely not what you thought. The active sisters want to get to know the PNMs and the PNMs want to let the actives know about them so they can end up finding the group they are best fit for. This small talk is because there's not a ton of time during recruitment events but in that time the active members have to get to know the PNMs well enough to see if they will be offered a bid.

5.) Bid day.

Remember how Katniss and Peeta were moved to the Victor's Village and were given a "life of luxury" (before the Quarter Quell of course)? For the PNMs, that is basically bid day. You can finally breathe because you have your bid, life is great, the planets are in alignment and the stars are shining down on you. This is the same for the actives, too. Recruitment is work! Plus we're super excited to have new members joining us, so bid day is definitely living the life of luxury with new sisters and friends to love and grab dinner at the dining hall with.

It may not be for everyone, but getting your bid after going through the ups and downs of recruitment is so worth it. Power through recruitment, ladies on both sides, and then you get to spend the time after with a new group of girls who you can now call your brand new sisters.

Now, get out there and may the odds be ever in your favor.