It's All Greek to Me

Put simply, rush is an odd mix of an all-girls camp and the Hunger Games. You step into each house- ehem, mansion- and are ushered forward by a sea of beautiful women chanting tunes that will replay in your mind for at least twelve hours. One of these women links arms with you, and once you reach the chapter room, the largest space in the house, you try to be heard over the hundreds of other girls that surround you. You answer questions like, "Where are you from?" and "What's your major?" over and over again. It's nerve-wracking because as you evaluate whether or not you like them, you wonder if they like you.

Beneath the surface of the craziness that is rush, something deeper occurs. As the rounds go on, you break free of the monotony of small talk and form genuine connections. You fall in love with a house and gush about your "Rush Crush." While there's often heartbreak along the way, like when you get dropped by a house that you liked, nothing beats the sheer joy you experience as you sprint to your new sisters on Bid Day.

I came into the sorority recruitment process without an inkling of what house I wanted. That's the best way to do it. Because I had an open mind, I was able to experience each house for it was truly was without having any preconceived notions. From the moment I first stepped into the Alpha Delta Pi house, I loved it. At the time, I wouldn't admit to myself how much I loved it because that seemed to be the house that everyone wanted. I was afraid of getting my hopes up only to then be heartbroken. Throughout the entire process, my prayer was "My life and my plans in Your hands."

As the rounds continued, I was elated every time I saw that ADPi was still on my list of parties that I had been invited back to. During the second round, I spoke to two seniors who got choked up when they realized that this was their last year together. That made me choke up, too. At the end of the party, the whole house sang a version of American Pie, my favorite song. At that moment I knew that ADPi was the one.

Then, during Preference Round, they read each of us potential new members an individual letter saying why they liked us and why they wanted us to be their sister. I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. Not only did I like the girls of ADPi, but I wanted to be like them. They all were so endearing and accomplished and ambitious. They made me want to be a better person.

On Bid Day, over 1,400 girls gathered in the Colonial Life Arena, all anxious to see if we would have a happy ending to the exhausting process. Much to our dismay, Bid Day was delayed. We sat on the cold concrete floor and waited, and waited, and waited. After three excruciating hours of anticipation, Bid Day finally began. We formed small circles, faced outwards, and put our hands palms-up behind our backs. A tank top was placed in my hands. It feels soft. ADPi's shirts look soft, I thought. Sure enough, when they gave us the okay and I unrolled my shirt, I saw the greek letters Alpha Delta Pi glistening in gold writing. A giant smile erupted on my face and I jumped up and down. "Are you happy?' my Pi Chi asked me. "YES!" I squealed, and took off towards my new sisters.

I can't wait to experience the plans God has for me these next four years and the role that Greek life will play in that. I love my ADPi!

Forward

If there’s one thing I am, it’s self-aware (to a neurotic fault). So self-aware, in fact, that I find myself frantically typing my thoughts into the Notes app on my phone. On June 25th, I wrote:

I’ve been quite reflective lately. I think about what my life was like a year ago and two years ago. Then I think about what my life will be like a year from now. With all this looking backwards and looking forwards, I crave to savor this last summer. I want this summer to be its own entity. I don’t want to spend it solely looking ahead. I want to steal more forks with my friends. I want to have new hoodrat adventures. I want to lay on the beach and soak up the sun. I want the rejuvenating recess that past summers have provided. I want time to slow down.

I have always believed that we view time as having passed quickly after the fact because we’re not constantly aware of it passing during. However, this summer proved my theory wrong. I knew the season would come and go as quickly as the morning dew. Yet, even as I was aware of it, time didn’t slow down. 

Although the summer was fleeting, it was significant in its own right. I did what I once considered to be impossible: I embraced the present. Be here now, I reminded myself. I put down my phone, opened my eyes, and took it all in. I also let go of the past. It was a relief to stop reopening old wounds. For a while, I even brushed off the future. What a freeing feeling it was!

But now it is time to look ahead. I have nowhere to go but forward. It’s terrifying because it’s change; it’s terrifying because it’s the unknown. Isn’t that what makes life worth living, though? What fun would it be if God gave you an itinerary of every single thing that would happen in your life? There would be no surprises. There would be no excitement. There would be no adventure.

In your mind, there isn't enough room for worry and faith. You must choose which one will live there. And I choose faith. Instead of being anxious about the season of change ahead of me, I am embracing the adventure. I hope you do the same.