Warning: This is a long post. Sorry! =) Enjoy it though
The funny thing about Recruitment… Well let’s be honest. There are quite a few things funny about recruitment.
1) Why do I only have 5 days to find a house that I want to affiliate with for the rest of my life?
2) How do these girls know so much about me already?? They always seem to know that I am in FFA and played softball… Coincidence? (yeah right!)
3) Sororities always seem to be bursting into song. Is there a voice requirement for certain houses similar to GPA requirements?
4) Is there any particular reason why I am not familiar with terms such as pomping, philanthropies, coke dates, big/little/g’s/twins, or functions?
5) Does every house always look so pristine and spotless as they do on house tour day? i.e. fresh cut flowers, staged study groups, matching bed spreads, crazy color themes, etc.
Speaking of houses, the next day in formal recruitment is ‘House Tour and Philanthropy Day!’ This is the day where the members and PNM’s do a lot of walking and talking. Take into account this simple equation… Heels + walking all over a 4-story house (don’t forget the basement!!) = Potential Falling/tripping/stumbling.
The days start out REAL early during recruitment. This is a super bummer because you are on summer time where waking up happens naturally, not by an annoying alarm clock that your great aunt bought you for graduation. Anyways, back to waking up…. It is necessary to be up early because you want to make sure you are showered, primped, and dressed in your stylish duds before heading out to see what houses are on your schedule for the day. Today’s attire is described by two words: ‘Business Casual.’ Apparently I didn’t check the magazine to see the visual examples. Instead, read the caption of what was appropriate attire for the day.
In Cameron’s world, business casual meant dress pants and a nice top… Not sun dresses, wedge heels, strappy sandals, sassy skirts, and an all-around spring/summer cuteness vibe. No, no. I was in black dress pants, old worn out black FFA heels, and a maroon-polka-dot-polyester-dress top. I looked like I was ready for some cloudy days and fall weather. It really should have been no surprise to me that my wardrobe would again define me as the incoming freshman who didn’t have a clue.
As I looked around at the girls in my group, I wondered how much the sororities judged me on my wardrobe choices. Before I could ponder this thought much longer, my Gamma Chi (the Recruitment mentor/group leader) handed me a tiny slip of paper that held my fate. There was a possibility of having 8 houses today. I had 5. 5/8… Not TOO bad. I felt okay with the houses that had kept me. Kind of surprised my crush house had released me… But who cares… This all just seemed like a sparkly lottery ticket anyways. If I win… Great. If not… Does it really matter? I have survived this long without a million dollar prize/sorority house.
Today is a pain. First, you have to walk to your house by yourself. The Greek neighborhood is kind of confusing, and the Gamma Chi’s are not too forgiving if you show up late. Somehow it always worked out the house you were at was farthest away from the next house you needed to be at. Golden Rule: be on time. And the most difficult part—lining up alphabetically with a different group of 50 girls every party. Each time it was like we were trying to solve a thorny calculus problem, or find a cure for the common cold. WE HAD NAME TAGS ON FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!! This should have been simple, but at each house we struggled. It never failed. Again, the parties would start with a roll call, a chant/song and banging on windows/ doors, and finally a milli-second meet and greet with all the important sorority people before being tossed off to a member.
I will not replay all 5 houses for you. Reasons— It would take to long. I don’t remember all of it. And even though I like to think that everything in this blog is AWESOME… I have to be realistic and cut my odds. I am only going to highlight and recap the essence of this day.
House tour is ultimate torture. Your Gamma Chi’s tell you to ASK questions. ‘They will remember you if you ask interesting questions!’
Listen. Some of your ‘tour guide barbies’ (sorority members) do not stop talking long enough for you to even say the occasional “Yeah,” or “Wow. Cool!” It is like they have their own agenda and script to adhere to, and even if they started out the tour and with the saying ‘Please don’t hesitate to interrupt me for questions!!’ You still felt like an interruption for your ‘interesting question’ could result in either a punch to the face, or, at minimum, a sigh of contempt and forced ‘cookie cutter’ answer.
This was not the case at all houses though. Some girls were really brief with their tours and would ask after every room… ‘Do you have any questions for me?’
That first time she asks, you are in the clear. You have that interesting question on your mind! Then the next time she asks… Crap. You have nothing to ask! You have read the chapter’s page in the recruitment book, and she basically says anything else during the tour that you need to know. Give me a break! If I had a question, I would ask. Each time the girl would put me on the spot, I would freeze and stutter, “Umm, no I am good.”
Some houses you would have 2 or 3 potential new members per 1 sorority girl. Pro- This was nice because you were no longer the center of attention. Con- The hallways in the houses were NOT meant for that many people. Awkward situations occurred.
Rooms were decorated really well. I remember being at one house, and desperately wanting to join because of the craft room. A room dedicated to crafts? Yes please.
The VERY first house I went to had a showcase of their Big/Little study boards. I wanted to be in this house SOLEY because they had these jazzy study boards. It was quite a relief to find out that every house did study boards, so no need to pref houses on this reason.
One sorority had all their beds on these riser blocks. I thought it was amazing that all their storable items fit under their beds. Even cooler though, was that some beds were so high that you needed a step stool!!! Not just any step stool… But one customized with your name, favorite colors, some glitter, and even a picture, too. Sign me up for a high bed please!
One random thing that sticks out in my mind… One house showcased their bath tub. It was in a stall and was the only bath tub in a sorority house at OSU. That weirded me out. Baths are supposed to be relaxing. How can someone relax in a stall with 21 girls coming in and out of the bathroom?? But that might just be me…
The second part of this day is Philanthropy. Some PNM’s hate philanthropy day because they feel the projects are too hard. Girls don’t like feeling as if they are being judged due to their lack of creativity. I did not fall under this category. I was totally fine painting a stool free hand, making crazy bead jewelry, and even drawing on a card.
The two house projects I didn’t care for was towel folding and tying a ribbon around a bear. Towel folding was just ugly process. If the member who is suppose to be showing me how to fold a towel cannot do it successfully, then this project is a definite no go. Save the towel folding for cruise ship employees. They are trained professionals who get paid for their craft.
Ironically, the other mediocre project was done by the chapter I am now a part of. The project was a good one in theory. Teddy Bears go to police officers and when they deal with kids during an accident, they can give them a stuffed animal for comfort. Totally dig where we are going with this… But tying a ribbon to the bear and calling it good? Umm what was I going to do for the other 20 minutes?!!? Talk. And listen. Thankfully the house does a couple other things to break up the long time block— like singing! Duh…
Talking got old, and it took me about 3 houses to understand the big word that starts with a “p” just means community service and volunteering had a baby and named it Philanthropy.
Luckily I didn’t trip this day. I managed not to spill my water on any craft projects or sorority members. I kept my questions to an intelligent minimum, and made sure that I paid very close attention to the details so I could cut houses in a business professional manner (to reflect my business attire).
I was impressed with how much the houses did for the community. It was kind of inspiring and refreshing to see all the different foundations, organizations, and programs who were being helped out by OSU sororities.
This was my first time to take sororities seriously. I might be able to do this sorority gig after all.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
"You'll end up where you're suppose to..."
I am sorry it has been so long since the last post. It has been a crazy week, and seems to keep getting crazier. Thanks for being patient and enjoy the 3rd post.
Recap- We are journeying through the formal recruitment process at OSU in 2007…
Stats: Attend 11 houses… for 10-15 minutes… in 2 days. Talk to 1, 2 or 3 girls about the same boring topics. Do not take ANYTHING from their house, and above all, remember their names because you’ll need to know this crucial information in order to make the first releases! Dress code is an OSU shirt with jeans, shorts, or classy skirts.
Oh, no big. Just talk about my major in college and my high school career? Should be a breeze… I am proudly wearing my FIRST OSU shirt, which has come out of the men’s department at Kohl’s, and decide that tucking my boots into my jeans would be a great way to stand out. I was correct. I stood out in a redneck, who the heck is that, is she lost? kind of way.
I first realize my fashion faux pa when I meet my rush group. I couldn’t believe the fashionable things these chicks wore! They were like freaking super models… I didn’t see anything OSU in zebra print and bedazzled with rhinestones at Kohl’s! Why didn’t Doli clue me in on this? I looked ridiculous. NO ONE ELSE EVEN HAD JEANS ON! Oh dear. Abort mission. Too late… We were given mini notebooks to write notes in and then herded off to the first house.
When you arrive at a house, you put your belongings on the porch and line up alphabetically. While you are standing there in the unbearable heat, the membership chair comes out from the house looking like a Victoria Secret model. She goes one by one taking role of all the Potential New Members (PNMs). Once she has completed the check, the front doors magically opened, and she disappears back into the mansion of a house. The next part is quite alarming if not prepared… you will be standing there minding your own business when the house BURSTS OUT in song from behind closed doors. If they are extra cool, they will bang on the windows and doors for an extra effect. Then you are whisked into their air-conditioned house, meet everyone from the Pres to the house mom, and finally shoved onto a member of the house. You then get some refreshing water and sit down in a room where the noise decibel level is off the charts because of all the high pitched talking.
I do not remember much about the houses I went to or the girls I spoke with. I know that I did a lot of the talking, and really wasn’t that shy, surprisingly. What I do distinctly remember is writing notes about the oddest things… Basically to distinguish among the different houses. I would always would put down if there was fruit in my water (pineapple was my favorite) or if the house smelled strongly of something (one smelled of old lady and cats). For some reason, I didn’t EVER remember the names of the girls, but I could recall piercings, tattoos or shoes, so that was scribbled into the notebook. I would also put down a ranking of the overall conversation. 1 would be awarded if we stayed on things like prom, my major, where I was living, or why I ended up at OSU. 5 was a middle ground where questions maybe were still mundane but it wasn’t a game of 20 questions. Conversation flowed in a 5 conversation. 10 was when we would talk about something ridiculous. Law and Order episode, why the sky was blue, FFA, and other random topics that broke the mold were solid 9’s or 10’s.
Let me share with you some inevitable rules and facts, which applied to every house and party no matter who they were or what day it was…
#1 While you may be thirsty beyond belief, do not drink ALL the water. Take sips if you must, but do not gulp it down. You do not want to look like a dehydrated camel who needs to replenish her h2o supply! And absolutely, DO NOT EAT THE FRUIT. I don’t think they put fruit in the cups anymore, but listen. Even if the girl you are with said, “Go ahead, eat the fruit.” You always refrained… I didn’t know this and did the cardinal sin. I would awkwardly reach into the cup with fingers and eat the fruit. Yeah. Not cute.
#2 When you are sweaty, you do not want people touching you. Get over it because some houses cannot keep their hands off you. They want to guide you with their hands on your back, or touch your arm…. Ew. It was ultra embarrassing when they did that and realized,no, it was not raining outside yet... Nope, that moisture is 100% perspiration and back sweat. Thanks.
#3 It is loud in the house once you sit down and start to talk. It is TOTALLY acceptable to smile and nod your head when a member is talking to you, but you can’t hear them. Saying, “huh,” or “what was that,” is only going to worsen the problem. This is a rule that goes both ways. Freebie cards must be issued when someone smiles, nods, and says yeah, only to realize that the opposite party has asked a question. Then you can say, “Oh, what was that?” with a giggle and it’ll be just fine.
#4 Those songs that you hear from the houses? Yeah, that is going to be with you for awhile, so don’t try to block it out. Merely accept the annoyance and sing them at the top of your lungs back at your room. It is fun, I promise.
#5 Don’t listen to your fellow peers in your rush groups. They all have their own personalities, opinions and brain. Just because they had a terrible experience or were not feeling a house… DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT ISN’T A GOOD HOUSE!!!! That could be your future chapter and sisters who you don’t know yet… I know that Gamma Chi’s (rush group leaders) are suppose to crack down on that, but recently graduated high school girls will do whatever they please, especially when they can chime in with their opinions and gossip.
Perfect example. I LOVED a chapter on the first day. I thought this house was going to be my sorority home. The girls I talked with were 11’s and it was just amazing… Well in between parties, a fellow group member said she could not STAND my beloved chapter. She said only freaks and losers would go “XXX.” My heart sank and I literally wanted to cry. What the heck?! I didn’t get that vibe at all… But I also didn’t have any fashion sense or a clue as to what Greek life really consisted of. This girl looked like she knew what she was talking about…. I made a note in my little book and continued on with the parties with her voice in the back of my mind.
Come house tour day, my chapter crush that was only for “freaks and losers” had actually released me. Dang it, that is not a good sign…. But it did reveal the poignant mantra of the week, “You’ll end up where you are suppose to…” Not exactly what I wanted to hear right after being released from your favorite house; however,these were words of wisdom, which will mean much more to me, later on down the road…
Recap- We are journeying through the formal recruitment process at OSU in 2007…
Stats: Attend 11 houses… for 10-15 minutes… in 2 days. Talk to 1, 2 or 3 girls about the same boring topics. Do not take ANYTHING from their house, and above all, remember their names because you’ll need to know this crucial information in order to make the first releases! Dress code is an OSU shirt with jeans, shorts, or classy skirts.
Oh, no big. Just talk about my major in college and my high school career? Should be a breeze… I am proudly wearing my FIRST OSU shirt, which has come out of the men’s department at Kohl’s, and decide that tucking my boots into my jeans would be a great way to stand out. I was correct. I stood out in a redneck, who the heck is that, is she lost? kind of way.
I first realize my fashion faux pa when I meet my rush group. I couldn’t believe the fashionable things these chicks wore! They were like freaking super models… I didn’t see anything OSU in zebra print and bedazzled with rhinestones at Kohl’s! Why didn’t Doli clue me in on this? I looked ridiculous. NO ONE ELSE EVEN HAD JEANS ON! Oh dear. Abort mission. Too late… We were given mini notebooks to write notes in and then herded off to the first house.
When you arrive at a house, you put your belongings on the porch and line up alphabetically. While you are standing there in the unbearable heat, the membership chair comes out from the house looking like a Victoria Secret model. She goes one by one taking role of all the Potential New Members (PNMs). Once she has completed the check, the front doors magically opened, and she disappears back into the mansion of a house. The next part is quite alarming if not prepared… you will be standing there minding your own business when the house BURSTS OUT in song from behind closed doors. If they are extra cool, they will bang on the windows and doors for an extra effect. Then you are whisked into their air-conditioned house, meet everyone from the Pres to the house mom, and finally shoved onto a member of the house. You then get some refreshing water and sit down in a room where the noise decibel level is off the charts because of all the high pitched talking.
I do not remember much about the houses I went to or the girls I spoke with. I know that I did a lot of the talking, and really wasn’t that shy, surprisingly. What I do distinctly remember is writing notes about the oddest things… Basically to distinguish among the different houses. I would always would put down if there was fruit in my water (pineapple was my favorite) or if the house smelled strongly of something (one smelled of old lady and cats). For some reason, I didn’t EVER remember the names of the girls, but I could recall piercings, tattoos or shoes, so that was scribbled into the notebook. I would also put down a ranking of the overall conversation. 1 would be awarded if we stayed on things like prom, my major, where I was living, or why I ended up at OSU. 5 was a middle ground where questions maybe were still mundane but it wasn’t a game of 20 questions. Conversation flowed in a 5 conversation. 10 was when we would talk about something ridiculous. Law and Order episode, why the sky was blue, FFA, and other random topics that broke the mold were solid 9’s or 10’s.
Let me share with you some inevitable rules and facts, which applied to every house and party no matter who they were or what day it was…
#1 While you may be thirsty beyond belief, do not drink ALL the water. Take sips if you must, but do not gulp it down. You do not want to look like a dehydrated camel who needs to replenish her h2o supply! And absolutely, DO NOT EAT THE FRUIT. I don’t think they put fruit in the cups anymore, but listen. Even if the girl you are with said, “Go ahead, eat the fruit.” You always refrained… I didn’t know this and did the cardinal sin. I would awkwardly reach into the cup with fingers and eat the fruit. Yeah. Not cute.
#2 When you are sweaty, you do not want people touching you. Get over it because some houses cannot keep their hands off you. They want to guide you with their hands on your back, or touch your arm…. Ew. It was ultra embarrassing when they did that and realized,no, it was not raining outside yet... Nope, that moisture is 100% perspiration and back sweat. Thanks.
#3 It is loud in the house once you sit down and start to talk. It is TOTALLY acceptable to smile and nod your head when a member is talking to you, but you can’t hear them. Saying, “huh,” or “what was that,” is only going to worsen the problem. This is a rule that goes both ways. Freebie cards must be issued when someone smiles, nods, and says yeah, only to realize that the opposite party has asked a question. Then you can say, “Oh, what was that?” with a giggle and it’ll be just fine.
#4 Those songs that you hear from the houses? Yeah, that is going to be with you for awhile, so don’t try to block it out. Merely accept the annoyance and sing them at the top of your lungs back at your room. It is fun, I promise.
#5 Don’t listen to your fellow peers in your rush groups. They all have their own personalities, opinions and brain. Just because they had a terrible experience or were not feeling a house… DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT ISN’T A GOOD HOUSE!!!! That could be your future chapter and sisters who you don’t know yet… I know that Gamma Chi’s (rush group leaders) are suppose to crack down on that, but recently graduated high school girls will do whatever they please, especially when they can chime in with their opinions and gossip.
Perfect example. I LOVED a chapter on the first day. I thought this house was going to be my sorority home. The girls I talked with were 11’s and it was just amazing… Well in between parties, a fellow group member said she could not STAND my beloved chapter. She said only freaks and losers would go “XXX.” My heart sank and I literally wanted to cry. What the heck?! I didn’t get that vibe at all… But I also didn’t have any fashion sense or a clue as to what Greek life really consisted of. This girl looked like she knew what she was talking about…. I made a note in my little book and continued on with the parties with her voice in the back of my mind.
Come house tour day, my chapter crush that was only for “freaks and losers” had actually released me. Dang it, that is not a good sign…. But it did reveal the poignant mantra of the week, “You’ll end up where you are suppose to…” Not exactly what I wanted to hear right after being released from your favorite house; however,these were words of wisdom, which will mean much more to me, later on down the road…
Monday, April 5, 2010
The 5 Day Rollercoaster of Formal Recruitment: Part I
Luckily, I have been getting some good comments and feedback on the first post. WHEW! Ever since I posted, I have been trying to think about what I should share next. Well, obviously, I should probably explain my top-notch experience with Formal Recruitment. From there, I will most likely begin posting random stories and reflections on the good times/interesting times I have had in the sorority. The recruitment post will be 3 or 4 parts because my experience was an absolute trip. There is no way I can write about it all, in its entirety, in only 1 post, without drowning you with 15 pages of text or cutting some very funny and crucial parts. So here we go. Formal Recruitment Part I.
We last left off with my mother and me leaving the OSU Greek Information lunch seminar. Greek Life Poll: I was thumbs down, and my mom was two thumbs up. The word ‘sorority’ was not talked about again after that. My senior year wrapped up, and I graduated high school. I started to think about my future in college, and began to realize a very scary truth. I was going to college with ZERO friends. Some how, I had managed to be best friends with people whose aspirations did not lead to an orange and black university. Crap. What was I going to do? I couldn’t just live in my dorm 24/7 and only leave for classes, food and Diet Coke. Panic began to sweep over my soul. I did not want to be ‘that’ freshman. I wanted a life! I wanted friends! I wanted a REAL college experience.
I was in need of a quick solution…. An enchanted wand…. Some magic friend beans…? ORRRRR…. A house full of girls who had to be my friends…? Yes. That would work lovely. One day before registration closed online, I submitted a fee, a picture, and a bangin’ resume in hopes of joining the ranks in a National Panhellenic Sorority. Yee-haw. Do I even need to say that Doli almost cried when I fessed up to the truth two days later…? True Story.
After submitting my documents, I did not think much about recruitment. I mean, how hard could it be? I talk to girls for 5 days and sign a bid card. Then, snap. I have friends to have a college experience with. How naïve I was…. I still feel bad for my unknowingly clueless self. I had NO suspicions of what I was diving into. I moved into my dorm the weekend before recruitment. There were only 3 girls doing recruitment in the CASNR Village. CASNR is College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural resources… So that made sense that between 4 floors, only 3 women had signed up for the sorority gig.
When I checked into the Recruitment table, I received my name tag and a book filled with advertisements, letters from the NPC VP’s of Recruitment, and descriptions of all the houses. Before I could start prematurely judging the houses by their mascots and colors… I ran across this sweet survey…
IS RECRUITMENT RIGHT FOR ME?
Check yes if you agree to the following statements...
Do you like meeting new people?
….. Well… Do we have things in common….? Do I have to talk much? I mean I guess it is okay if it isn’t awkward… But overall not really. No. (Remember. This is freshman Cameron and she is quirky. And by quirky I mean weird.)
Do you want to get involved at OSU?
Involved. Do you have a choice? I thought everyone would be doing something in college. You’d have to try pretty hard not to be involved, right? So sororities are the only ones involved at OSU…. Interesting. But, yes. Yes I would love to be involved.
Do you want to be a leader on campus?
WHOA! Leader?? I am not qualified to lead right now. I am a freshman. The ultimate tag line for, “You have a lot of learning to do.” I have only led in FFA. I don’t think that qualifies me… So… No. No I do not see myself leading in the near future.
Do you like helping others by performing community service?
It is even legal to answer no on this? Like who would say, no? “No, I do not like helping others ESPECIALLY if it involves community service. Huh uh, leave that dumb stuff to juvenile delinquents and nuns….” Seriously. What person with a soul would say no? So, yes. This one is a yes.
Do you want to be a part of an organization that promotes academic excellence?
Again, what the heck?? The person that answered no to the last question would be most likely to say no to this one. If an organization doesn’t value your education in COLLEGE, re-evaluate it. So yes to this question. Because if I say no, I need to go ahead and drop out of college now.
Do you want to find a place to call home at OSU?
Whoever made this survey is ridiculous. Yes I want a home. No, I do not want to be a homeless student who hates life, academics, and the community.
If you checked one or more boxes yes, you should pack your bags and head to OSU for Recruitment 2007!
Well neat. I checked 4/6. Honestly though, the last 3 were gimmie’s. So according to the NPC magaize, 2/3 of me was ready to get this Recruitment going. The other one-third was skeptical.
I would love to continue writing, but my first day has a lot to it. I also think it would be better to just combine the first two days into one blog, so I am stopping. It is so funny to think back on the ‘old’ Cameron. About a million and three things have shifted and changed. I am a completely different person now. I know a lot of that can be contributed to growing up and maturing, but going Greek was like adding a match and some lighter fluid to the process. In two years I have evolved into a well-rounded woman, and could not be anymore pleased with the outcome so far.
We last left off with my mother and me leaving the OSU Greek Information lunch seminar. Greek Life Poll: I was thumbs down, and my mom was two thumbs up. The word ‘sorority’ was not talked about again after that. My senior year wrapped up, and I graduated high school. I started to think about my future in college, and began to realize a very scary truth. I was going to college with ZERO friends. Some how, I had managed to be best friends with people whose aspirations did not lead to an orange and black university. Crap. What was I going to do? I couldn’t just live in my dorm 24/7 and only leave for classes, food and Diet Coke. Panic began to sweep over my soul. I did not want to be ‘that’ freshman. I wanted a life! I wanted friends! I wanted a REAL college experience.
I was in need of a quick solution…. An enchanted wand…. Some magic friend beans…? ORRRRR…. A house full of girls who had to be my friends…? Yes. That would work lovely. One day before registration closed online, I submitted a fee, a picture, and a bangin’ resume in hopes of joining the ranks in a National Panhellenic Sorority. Yee-haw. Do I even need to say that Doli almost cried when I fessed up to the truth two days later…? True Story.
After submitting my documents, I did not think much about recruitment. I mean, how hard could it be? I talk to girls for 5 days and sign a bid card. Then, snap. I have friends to have a college experience with. How naïve I was…. I still feel bad for my unknowingly clueless self. I had NO suspicions of what I was diving into. I moved into my dorm the weekend before recruitment. There were only 3 girls doing recruitment in the CASNR Village. CASNR is College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural resources… So that made sense that between 4 floors, only 3 women had signed up for the sorority gig.
When I checked into the Recruitment table, I received my name tag and a book filled with advertisements, letters from the NPC VP’s of Recruitment, and descriptions of all the houses. Before I could start prematurely judging the houses by their mascots and colors… I ran across this sweet survey…
IS RECRUITMENT RIGHT FOR ME?
Check yes if you agree to the following statements...
Do you like meeting new people?
….. Well… Do we have things in common….? Do I have to talk much? I mean I guess it is okay if it isn’t awkward… But overall not really. No. (Remember. This is freshman Cameron and she is quirky. And by quirky I mean weird.)
Do you want to get involved at OSU?
Involved. Do you have a choice? I thought everyone would be doing something in college. You’d have to try pretty hard not to be involved, right? So sororities are the only ones involved at OSU…. Interesting. But, yes. Yes I would love to be involved.
Do you want to be a leader on campus?
WHOA! Leader?? I am not qualified to lead right now. I am a freshman. The ultimate tag line for, “You have a lot of learning to do.” I have only led in FFA. I don’t think that qualifies me… So… No. No I do not see myself leading in the near future.
Do you like helping others by performing community service?
It is even legal to answer no on this? Like who would say, no? “No, I do not like helping others ESPECIALLY if it involves community service. Huh uh, leave that dumb stuff to juvenile delinquents and nuns….” Seriously. What person with a soul would say no? So, yes. This one is a yes.
Do you want to be a part of an organization that promotes academic excellence?
Again, what the heck?? The person that answered no to the last question would be most likely to say no to this one. If an organization doesn’t value your education in COLLEGE, re-evaluate it. So yes to this question. Because if I say no, I need to go ahead and drop out of college now.
Do you want to find a place to call home at OSU?
Whoever made this survey is ridiculous. Yes I want a home. No, I do not want to be a homeless student who hates life, academics, and the community.
If you checked one or more boxes yes, you should pack your bags and head to OSU for Recruitment 2007!
Well neat. I checked 4/6. Honestly though, the last 3 were gimmie’s. So according to the NPC magaize, 2/3 of me was ready to get this Recruitment going. The other one-third was skeptical.
I would love to continue writing, but my first day has a lot to it. I also think it would be better to just combine the first two days into one blog, so I am stopping. It is so funny to think back on the ‘old’ Cameron. About a million and three things have shifted and changed. I am a completely different person now. I know a lot of that can be contributed to growing up and maturing, but going Greek was like adding a match and some lighter fluid to the process. In two years I have evolved into a well-rounded woman, and could not be anymore pleased with the outcome so far.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Go Greek.
I feel like it’s only proper to start out this whole 'blogging thing' with some background info on me. My name is Cameron and, yes, I am a girl. I am a junior at Oklahoma State University, Go Pokes!, and my major is Agricultural Education (Ag Ed). For anyone who is curious what Ag Ed is, remember FFA in high school? You know, the Ag class where the kids wore those awesome blue corduroy jackets and owned farm animals? Yup, my friends, that is an Agricultural Education program in the secondary school setting. I plan to perhaps teach agriculture to kids one day. Other things that might help set a foundation for who I am... I am from Edmond, OK, but I was born in Texas and have lived in California. I have a super 'Type-A' personality and am a self-proclaimed perfectionist. I am very honest when it comes to advice and speaking my opinion, but not one of those people are over-the-top rude about it. If anything, I can sometimes get dramatic and over-the-top! The other crucial part that you might like to know is that I am in a sorority at OSU.
The past three years in a collegiate National Panhellenic Sorority has not only yielded many opportunities, lessons, and memories, but also numerous funny stories. My hope is to share experiences and stories revealing those humorous spots, and throwing in a couple learned lessons for good measure. Anyone who reads this is pretty much guaranteed to crack a smile, laugh a little, and maybe find some hidden life truths.
As Julie Andrews wisely sung in her beautiful voice, "Let's start at the very beginning..." I shall start with my beginning at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. Myth #1- Because Edmond is known to be the 'snobby-rich-city,' it is not surprising that I went through rush. Couldn’t be further from the truth! The ONLY reason my happy little butt went through formal recruitment in the first place was because of one lovely, persistent lady—Doli Jones. Doli is my mother, and a legacy of the sorority I now call home. She LOVED her sorority experience, and I do not want to assume anything... but I think the fact that only 3 houses were on her campus had something to do with it.
Anyways, three years ago this spring, Doli and I toured the OSU campus. We visited the dorms, the student union, the library, and even my soon-to-be-home-away-from-home—Ag Hall. After an invigorating tour, we were given the option of either a lunch seminar about Greek life or Residential life. It is VERY important to bring up the fact that Doli has yet to push her sorority on me. Honestly, all I know up to this point about her old chapter is that they got together and ‘socialized’ every six months to catch up on life and the good ole days. Example: They float the river every year with a theme… Last year’s theme: Pirates on the Piney [River]. I am talking printed t-shirts, eye patches, and a fake parrot. Seriously.
Back to the OSU lunch seminar dilemma… I am all about some residential life information. I have no earthly interest in a house full of girls who will eventually be middle-aged women floating a river in stripped socks and gold hoop earrings guarding the cooler of ‘booty.’ My colorful mother on the other hand would desperately love to eat lunch with the Greeks. After a couple minutes of arguing, I find myself at a table full of highly groomed high school senior girls who all have majors in Human Environmental Sciences College. Did I mention that I am in boots, jeans, and an old softball t-shirt? Yeah. The Ag Ed major was sticking out like no other.
My mother was absolutely having a blast talking to the other moms and seniors. She talked about everything and anything like a little social butterfly. Doli is the woman who makes friends with the Wal-Mart check out lady in about 3 minutes, and knows her life story. I, personally, was keeping my eyes on my plate and counting down the minutes until we could leave. I do not remember anything specific that was said by either the speakers or the girls at my table. The only thing I do remember was the continuous thought going through my head, “There was no way in God’s green earth that I was doing this crap.” I had bigger and better things to accomplish in college, and Doli would just have to come to terms with that.
Finally, the lunch was dismissed and we walked out of the room. I was grumpy, but my mom had a new life about her. She was rambling on and on about how great all the girls were, and how much fun I would have if I would go through rush. I broke it to her in a very abrasive manner…. “NO WAY!” She smiled and dismissed my dramatics. “You never know… Registration doesn’t close until July. Just think about it.”
And that is where this all began.
The past three years in a collegiate National Panhellenic Sorority has not only yielded many opportunities, lessons, and memories, but also numerous funny stories. My hope is to share experiences and stories revealing those humorous spots, and throwing in a couple learned lessons for good measure. Anyone who reads this is pretty much guaranteed to crack a smile, laugh a little, and maybe find some hidden life truths.
As Julie Andrews wisely sung in her beautiful voice, "Let's start at the very beginning..." I shall start with my beginning at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. Myth #1- Because Edmond is known to be the 'snobby-rich-city,' it is not surprising that I went through rush. Couldn’t be further from the truth! The ONLY reason my happy little butt went through formal recruitment in the first place was because of one lovely, persistent lady—Doli Jones. Doli is my mother, and a legacy of the sorority I now call home. She LOVED her sorority experience, and I do not want to assume anything... but I think the fact that only 3 houses were on her campus had something to do with it.
Anyways, three years ago this spring, Doli and I toured the OSU campus. We visited the dorms, the student union, the library, and even my soon-to-be-home-away-from-home—Ag Hall. After an invigorating tour, we were given the option of either a lunch seminar about Greek life or Residential life. It is VERY important to bring up the fact that Doli has yet to push her sorority on me. Honestly, all I know up to this point about her old chapter is that they got together and ‘socialized’ every six months to catch up on life and the good ole days. Example: They float the river every year with a theme… Last year’s theme: Pirates on the Piney [River]. I am talking printed t-shirts, eye patches, and a fake parrot. Seriously.
Back to the OSU lunch seminar dilemma… I am all about some residential life information. I have no earthly interest in a house full of girls who will eventually be middle-aged women floating a river in stripped socks and gold hoop earrings guarding the cooler of ‘booty.’ My colorful mother on the other hand would desperately love to eat lunch with the Greeks. After a couple minutes of arguing, I find myself at a table full of highly groomed high school senior girls who all have majors in Human Environmental Sciences College. Did I mention that I am in boots, jeans, and an old softball t-shirt? Yeah. The Ag Ed major was sticking out like no other.
My mother was absolutely having a blast talking to the other moms and seniors. She talked about everything and anything like a little social butterfly. Doli is the woman who makes friends with the Wal-Mart check out lady in about 3 minutes, and knows her life story. I, personally, was keeping my eyes on my plate and counting down the minutes until we could leave. I do not remember anything specific that was said by either the speakers or the girls at my table. The only thing I do remember was the continuous thought going through my head, “There was no way in God’s green earth that I was doing this crap.” I had bigger and better things to accomplish in college, and Doli would just have to come to terms with that.
Finally, the lunch was dismissed and we walked out of the room. I was grumpy, but my mom had a new life about her. She was rambling on and on about how great all the girls were, and how much fun I would have if I would go through rush. I broke it to her in a very abrasive manner…. “NO WAY!” She smiled and dismissed my dramatics. “You never know… Registration doesn’t close until July. Just think about it.”
And that is where this all began.
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