About one year ago, fall recruitment for Greek Life
had just begun. As 50+ sisters surrounded me, I never thought I would give it
all up to help PNMs (Potential New Members) go through and learn about Greek
Life at Ohio Northern University. Five months ago, as I sat across from our Panhellenic
Council for an interview to be a Rho Gamma for fall recruitment of 2015, I was
realizing the great opportunities that awaited me by stepping outside of my
Chapter to teach and help girls explore Greek Life options on campus. For
anyone who is not aware, a Rho Gamma is a sister who disaffiliates herself from
her Chapter during the recruitment process to help PNMs learn and experience
Greek Life through the informal and formal recruitment process without being biased.
Four months later and 15 days to go until Bid Day, I could not be
happier with my experience and the best part is yet to come. I will admit, I am
horrible at acting like I do not belong to my Chapter. My best friends are
affiliated and make being on campus very hard. I tend to smile big and get
excited when I see them randomly, then have to awkwardly walk away as I
remember I "do not" know them. Yet, I am thankful
for having to branch out from just those friends because I have had
the amazing chance to get closer with other girls from Chapters and closer
to my fellow RG sisters. It is crazy to think that without this
opportunity I would not be as close as I am with some sisters or be where
I am. I would just be another sister promoting Greek Life and my Chapter.
Instead, I get to be involved with the first steps of going Greek and get
to see how strong my Chapter is from the outside looking in.
As I am still in contact with my RG's from my
freshman year, I was always told you will have a greater outlook on Greek Life and
appreciation for your own Chapter. Realizing I have a little more than two weeks
to go, I could not be more thrilled about standing on the line in front of my
Chapter and new sisters and revealing those three letters that I hold close to my heart.
Courtney-
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that you have given up your letters to help these new students or upperclassmen find their new homes. I believe that it would be something very difficult to do and I commend you for being able to walk away from both your letters and your best friends. Being a member of Greek Life, I can relate to this from the other side as my best friend is a Rho Gamma. It's hard because all I want to do is go and talk with her out in public but that's not allowed, so we walk past each other in silence. The wait for Bid Day will be so worth it when you are able to run to your sisters and return to wearing your letters. The next two weeks will go fast, and before you know it you will not only be greeting your sisters, but also your new members.
Courtney- I applaud your choice in becoming a Rho Gamma! I certainly couldn’t do it. Being disaffiliated from your chapter would be an extremely difficult decision but giving up your letters will only remind you how much they mean to you. Because ONU has four great sororities to choose from, being able to guide PNM’s to their new homes will be such a rewarding experience. I can’t wait for you to reveal those three letters that mean so much to you and reunite with your sisters (and best friends)! Enjoy the rest of your time as an RG.
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