By Lauren Moore, junior
On the day before spring recruitment in January 2012, I had been almost kicking and screaming as Maggie, the senior at the end of my hall, pulled me by sweatshirt sleeve to my laptop. “I PROMISE it’s a good idea. You have nothing to lose, and at the very least, you’ll meet some other freshman girls over the weekend!” She brought up the Greek Life Formal Recruitment sign-up on my browser and turned the screen around to face me. “If I didn’t think you had awesome potential, I wouldn’t be pushing so hard.” And so it was on that day that I, the most skeptical, anti-Greek life, pessimistic freshman girl at Ohio Wesleyan, signed myself off to the madness that is recruitment—two days past the deadline.
I went through the five houses, all with Greek letters plastered to the front of their otherwise normal, suburban neighborhood homes, all with happily chanting and clapping girls in matching t-shirts, all with a host who knew my name. The surprising thing was that no house was more popular than another. These girls all spoke kindly of the other chapters, and each house bragged about their philanthropy, their sisterhood, and how much their college experience had been enriched since joining. And every house had its fair share of diversity—these women were not cookie-cutter sorority robots like you see in movies. Every single house was appealing and inspiring, and as time passed and my fondness for them grew, I knew I was digging myself into a huge, hypocritical hole.
On the day before spring recruitment in January 2012, I had been almost kicking and screaming as Maggie, the senior at the end of my hall, pulled me by sweatshirt sleeve to my laptop. “I PROMISE it’s a good idea. You have nothing to lose, and at the very least, you’ll meet some other freshman girls over the weekend!” She brought up the Greek Life Formal Recruitment sign-up on my browser and turned the screen around to face me. “If I didn’t think you had awesome potential, I wouldn’t be pushing so hard.” And so it was on that day that I, the most skeptical, anti-Greek life, pessimistic freshman girl at Ohio Wesleyan, signed myself off to the madness that is recruitment—two days past the deadline.
I went through the five houses, all with Greek letters plastered to the front of their otherwise normal, suburban neighborhood homes, all with happily chanting and clapping girls in matching t-shirts, all with a host who knew my name. The surprising thing was that no house was more popular than another. These girls all spoke kindly of the other chapters, and each house bragged about their philanthropy, their sisterhood, and how much their college experience had been enriched since joining. And every house had its fair share of diversity—these women were not cookie-cutter sorority robots like you see in movies. Every single house was appealing and inspiring, and as time passed and my fondness for them grew, I knew I was digging myself into a huge, hypocritical hole.
At the end of day one, I was about 78% certain that I wanted to play the recruitment game—if I was invited back to any of the houses. Luckily, I was called back to four! My group continued through the houses again on day two, and my last house was at the end of the street—Kappa Alpha Theta. The moment I knew for sure that I wanted to be a Theta was when I saw them on the second day dressed in a bright myriad of colors and styles of dresses. At one point, I found myself talking to six sisters at once. They all had totally different clothing styles, spoke in different tones, and had diverse interests. Between the six of them, they covered nearly every aspect of OWU’s campus, were highly involved and driven to succeed. I hung on to their every word, and they also showed genuine interest in what I had to say.
When Mady, the recruitment officer, called everyone’s attention, my heart sank. I reluctantly said goodbye to my entourage of older, impressive, and experienced college girls – Sarah, Chelsea, Chelsea, Allyson, Emily, and Rachel – and felt a sharp pang of dread in my stomach. I was so close to finding a place at OWU where I could branch out and become a better version of myself, when I realized it could all be taken from me in an instant. I only had one more day to convince the Thetas that I was one of them. I felt strangely panicked. Maggie, the Rho Gamma in my hall, checked in on me. She laughed at how suddenly concerned I was and assured me that I would end up in the house that was my own perfect fit. Then she sent me to bed after a hug and a spirited “SEE, I TOLD YOU SO!"
When Mady, the recruitment officer, called everyone’s attention, my heart sank. I reluctantly said goodbye to my entourage of older, impressive, and experienced college girls – Sarah, Chelsea, Chelsea, Allyson, Emily, and Rachel – and felt a sharp pang of dread in my stomach. I was so close to finding a place at OWU where I could branch out and become a better version of myself, when I realized it could all be taken from me in an instant. I only had one more day to convince the Thetas that I was one of them. I felt strangely panicked. Maggie, the Rho Gamma in my hall, checked in on me. She laughed at how suddenly concerned I was and assured me that I would end up in the house that was my own perfect fit. Then she sent me to bed after a hug and a spirited “SEE, I TOLD YOU SO!"
I tried not to smile so big when I walked into the Theta house a third time, but I couldn’t help it. Mady stepped forward and announced us: “Kappa Alpha Theta welcomes Lauren Moore.” One of the sisters I had talked to before stepped forward and walked me into another dimly lit room, where a kite made of twinkle lights lit up a wicker basket on the floor in the middle of the room. When everyone was arranged in a tight circle around it, the sisters began to place items into the box that were special to them because of Theta. Two years later, I’d be placing my own object into the box as a junior. We then filed downstairs where tables were set with cheesecake, strawberries, and sparkling grape juice in glass flutes. Here, I read a heartfelt note from my host. Someday, I’d be on the other side as a sophomore, watching a girl I grew up with read my own letter to her and becoming flushed with joy.
I don’t remember the rest of that final day. I don’t remember going to class the next day, bid day. I remember the Rho Gammas teasing us about being so nervous and jumpy. I remember forgoing the elevator and skipping stairs to the 5th floor because I didn’t want to wait in the mass of freshman girls who were on the verge of a complete and utter emotional roller coaster ride. And I remember calling my mom, hardly able to breathe, after I searched through the bids on my suite’s floor to reach my own.
I don’t remember the rest of that final day. I don’t remember going to class the next day, bid day. I remember the Rho Gammas teasing us about being so nervous and jumpy. I remember forgoing the elevator and skipping stairs to the 5th floor because I didn’t want to wait in the mass of freshman girls who were on the verge of a complete and utter emotional roller coaster ride. And I remember calling my mom, hardly able to breathe, after I searched through the bids on my suite’s floor to reach my own.
I never ran so fast in my life. In fact, I don’t ever react to things like I did that night. The clattering of pots and pans and thunderous clapping erupted from the five houses on Winter Street, each one full of powerful women screaming and singing at the top of their voices, welcoming more into their respective circles tonight. I sprinted, hardly able to catch my breath, all the way to the end of the street. All at once, I fell into a dozen hugs, with fifty-some voices saying, Welcome home to Theta, Lauren!
I never realized before then that a home need not be just a building. On that night, a sisterhood became the strongest form of love, aside from family, I would ever know. As I got to know my pledge class and became initiated, I learned. I learned so much, and I never stopped. I learned that I was now connected to a quarter million women across time and space who believe in the same values I do. I learned that I love who I am, thanks to my sisters helping me see this. I learned that I am a leader who would follow in her sisters’ footsteps to hold chapter positions, leadership positions on campus, and real internships and jobs that I never thought I was capable of. I learned that I’m not too shy to dance, even though I’m still awkward about it, and that I’m not alone in my need for constant inspiration, love, and validation. Greek life isn’t for the ditzy girls in movies. Greek life is for the powerful, leading women who are changing the world, one campus at a time. What Kappa Alpha Theta has given to me is something I wish upon every other college woman in this day and age. Recruitment may have proven me wrong, but being wrong never felt so good!
I never realized before then that a home need not be just a building. On that night, a sisterhood became the strongest form of love, aside from family, I would ever know. As I got to know my pledge class and became initiated, I learned. I learned so much, and I never stopped. I learned that I was now connected to a quarter million women across time and space who believe in the same values I do. I learned that I love who I am, thanks to my sisters helping me see this. I learned that I am a leader who would follow in her sisters’ footsteps to hold chapter positions, leadership positions on campus, and real internships and jobs that I never thought I was capable of. I learned that I’m not too shy to dance, even though I’m still awkward about it, and that I’m not alone in my need for constant inspiration, love, and validation. Greek life isn’t for the ditzy girls in movies. Greek life is for the powerful, leading women who are changing the world, one campus at a time. What Kappa Alpha Theta has given to me is something I wish upon every other college woman in this day and age. Recruitment may have proven me wrong, but being wrong never felt so good!