I never saw myself as a sorority girl. I don’t involve myself in drama, I am very low maintenance, my friends say I am kind of a tom boy. 

Girls participating in rush wait outside the Pi Beta Phi house on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009. Brad Meyer, The Daily Illini

I saw the sorority life as everyone does when they’re in high school, through information gained from television shows and movies.

But after my older sister (who I would say is different then me) rushed her freshman year at Illinois, my opinion completely changed.

She spoke of the recruitment process, and however stressful it was, she made the best decision for her. I would have to agree with that statement now that I have rushed, joined and am now an active member.

Prior to coming on campus, I had already decided to rush, while some girls wait until the last possible second before the registration closes. I wanted a chance to meet new people and I heard sorority recruitment was the opportunity to do it (although not the only one).

When I told my hometown friends I was rushing, they were surprised with my decision, thinking I was not the sorority type. And at the time I agreed, but how would I really know unless I tried?

Once I arrived at my dorm, I was excited to meet new people and try new things. When it was the weekend of recruitment, I was nervous, not truly knowing what to expect, but trying to have an open mind despite rumors of the stress and complications of rush.

I won’t lie, it’s stressful. It was people judging you for 25 minutes. 

You were judging them, trying to decide if you could fit in. The process got narrower, and I was down to my final choices. 

It was the time to decide if I really did want to join, or if I thought I really wasn’t a sorority girl. 

People had to make some difficult decisions; some people dropped because it wasn’t for them, but they still tried. 

Everyone discovered what choice was good for them.

I made my choice and it was a good one. I initially had second thoughts, but as time progressed I was satisfied.

I have a friend who dropped out of rush. 

That was her decision and she was happy with it; it just wasn’t for her. 

I know people who decided not to rush, and that made them happy. 

I know others who have already decided to rush this coming fall as sophomores.

There are really no rules to this, you don’t have to do what others do. 

Do what you want to do. 

Decide what makes you happy. 

But experiment new opportunities, try things and see what works and what doesn’t. 

If you don’t try it, you will never know.

I guess the one thing I would like to get out of this column is to encourage anyone to try it. Just try it, maybe even just the first weekend. 

You’ll meet a variety of people, but it is an experience that I think is worth the effort. And if you think it’s not for you after the first round, then drop. 

But you can come out of the whole process feeling better, because you know you have nothing to regret.

Samantha Kiesel is going to be a sophomore in Media. She can be reached at kiesel1@illinimedia.com.

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