Hi
ladies! My name is Paige Anderson, and I am so lucky to be one of the
rho gammas during the Fall 2013 Formal Recruitment! I am a senior at
Wichita State, and I am studying social work with a minor in psychology.
I am originally from Topeka, Kansas so I didn’t know anyone other than
my roommate in the dorms when I moved to Wichita. I was super involved
in high school and had a lot of amazing friends, so it was a tough
decision to move two hours away from everything I had ever known.
The
first few weeks after I moved into the dorms were hard, I was really
homesick and missing my family and all of my friends. One night, I was
talking to the girl who lived across the hall from me and she mentioned
that she had signed up to go through Formal Recruitment. I had never
even thought about joining a sorority, but I knew that I had nothing to
lose and everything to gain! That night, I went online and looked at all
of the chapters local websites. This was something that I am VERY glad
that I did, it really showed me a little bit about what the chapter
members were up to before recruitment had even started!
I
was super nervous on the first night of recruitment, I was afraid that I
would say something wrong and none of the women would like me. After
the first night of talking to all of the chapters, all of my nerves had
gone away! I just had to remember that these girls were fun college
students, just like myself! I was also very blessed to have such a
supportive Rho Gamma! She told us that we could always come to her with
anything, and she would be there to help us. She really made an effort
to get to know the girls in our group, and that made it easier for us to
confide in her. She also told our group something that is very
important, and that is to keep an open mind when going through all of
the chapters! Maybe you have heard something about one chapter, or maybe
something about their “reputation”, but that doesn’t make it true at
all. You are a smart woman, and you can make decisions for yourself!
Give all of these women a chance, and listen to their stories. They have
all been where you are sitting, and they have all made those same hard
decisions!
I
knew what chapter I belonged in on Philanthropy night. We were watching
a video about the chapter’s philanthropy, and it was just so
heartwarming that I started crying! When I looked over to the woman who
was recruiting me (just to make sure she didn’t think I was crazy), she
was crying too! I apologized for crying, but she just smiled and said
“You should never have to apologize for being passionate about someone
or something”. Those were the words that sealed my fate into that
chapter, and it was in that moment that I knew I was home! The women
that I had the privilege of speaking with those few nights, were the
women that I aspired to be when I left this chapter and my college years
behind me. As a senior, I can without a doubt say that by being a woman
in my sorority I am a better person today.
Being
Greek is so much more than I ever thought it could be. The women in my
chapter have become my family, my life, and my best friends. They have
shared with me in laughter, and in tears. I have had such a full life
here in Wichita for the past 3 years, and it is all because I decided to
sign up for Formal Recruitment in the Fall of 2010!
I
am so happy to have been given the opportunity to help all of you
beautiful women find your letters! My Rho Gamma had given me the most
amazing gift, and it was the constant support and strength to find my
home away from home. I’m super excited to meet all of you ladies! This
is an amazing experience, and I am so glad that you are all here! Enjoy
the rest of your summer, and I will see you all very soon!
Rho Gamma love,
Paige :)
