Recruitment & Bid Day 2018, Written by: Delaney Shaw

Throughout high school, I always knew I wanted to rush. With hearing my cousin’s experiences of greek life and listening to friends at home talk about their time with their sisters, I knew I wanted to be a part of greek life. I had anticipated the process even before I decided where I was going to college. When I realized Clemson was my home, I immediately followed all the sororities on instagram, stalked their vscos, and read their blog posts. Move-in approached, and I had already planned out what skirts and shorts I would be wearing with the recruitment t-shirts, and what dresses I would be wearing for the later rounds. I had even figured out how I would style my hair each day.

Day one of recruitment, I was so anxious, surrounded by so many older sorority girls whose pretty looks intimidated me, whose hair had become un-straightened and mascara had become runny from the humidity. Throughout the first two days, I focused on which girls I connected with during our casual convos and without a doubt, I already felt a place in Tri Delta. I had talked to three girls who welcomed me with big smiles. I will never forget how Sydney Perry, the first Delta I talked to, grabbed my arm with excitement and immediately began a conversation that ceased to end. I had talks about some of the most random things with all three girls making me feel so comfortable and humbled. After round one, going into round two, I was so overwhelmed because I didn’t have all 10 parties, like my friends. However, I still felt hope knowing Tri Delta was still on my schedule. During round two, I was greeted by Olivia Austin, who shared her devotion to the philanthropy. Having a heart for service, I related to Olivia’s passion for involvement and desired to experience that within a sorority. I can easily say that after philanthropy round, I knew for a fact that those girls were the girls I wanted to spend my college career with and who I longed to sacrifice my service for. I was so excited for round three, wearing my favorite dress, feeling as confident as ever. During this round, I chatted with girls about the most random things- from netflix shows to mac & cheese. They introduced the motto, “bring you,” which I connected with very well. I am outgoing, bubbly, quirky, and talkative, and I felt like I could bring all of the attributes of my personality to Tri Delta. I went back to my pi chi and rambled to her about how I believed I belonged in Tri Delt and how I was nervous if they wanted me back. My pi chi encouraged me to be the best, genuine version of myself during the last round, which is what I did. I was overwhelmed with joy when I saw Olivia Austin from round two there to greet me in the room. She remembered my name, the fact I was a twin, and my major, which meant the world to me. Going to bed that night, I could not sleep out of a mix of nerves and excitement.

The next day, when I finally opened the envelope which held my bid, I cried. I was so relieved and grateful that the card read “Delta Delta Delta.” I hugged another girl in my pi chi group, who was now my sister. When it was our time to run down Bowman, even though we were advised to walk, I bolted to my new sisters. When I finally found my bid-day buddy, Sydney Bryan, I hugged her and she smeared globs of glitter glue and paint all over my cheeks. It was messy, and my shower that day was over an hour, but it was so worth it. I kept going up to girls from my pledge class and introducing myself, knowing that I would meet over 50 new girls and only remember about 3 names. Riding to the Calhoun Houses, we blasted old rap songs, and I felt like these girls had already become my best friends. I met more girls from my pledge class at the houses when we all danced together. I was reluctant to go home that day because I just wanted to spend the whole day dancing and laughing with my new sisters.

I can’t describe the love I now have for Tri Delta. It has already impacted me in all the ways I desired. I connect so well with all the girls and am so thankful we share the same morals and interests. I will forever have “from Manninggg, to the Quad” in my head, but I don’t regret any part of the recruitment process. If I have any tips to share and how I realized Tri Delta was where I fit, it is to be yourself, do not put on any front or hide any attributes of your personality. Thank you Tri Delta!!!