Dear Potential New Member,
Hello, there! My name is Elizabeth Lamkin and I am writing to you today as a senior who is coming upon graduating. Let me first start off by saying, congratulations! You are a collegiate woman! This is such an exciting time for you and your family. The memories, education, and experiences you create at your university are unlike any other you’ll forge throughout your life. This is a time in your life for firsts: attending your first college classes, getting your first roommate, and maybe even leaving home for the first time in your life. All of these things can seem scary and nerve-wracking, but let me assure you that you are entering a time in your young adult life where you get to find out who you are, what interests you have, and the type of young woman you hope to become.
“Everything will be okay, you will find your forever home.”
I’m writing to you today because, during my college years, I made one decision that changed not only my time as an undergraduate, but truly changed the rest of my life. I decided to join a Panhellenic sorority on my campus. After hearing about all of the amazing opportunities the sorority experience has to offer women, I knew that I wanted to be a part of it. Now I know that the recruitment process can seem intimidating- especially when you’ve never been a part of an organization like that in your high school career. But let me assure you that the sorority recruitment process is all about YOU. Recruitment time is about finding the right home for you, and realizing what values you hold highly in yourself, your friendships, and ultimately your sisterhood. Looking back at the process now, I wish I could tell my first-year self that “everything is going to be okay, you will find your forever home.”
One of my first memories of joining my sisterhood was receiving my bid. A bid is an invitation from a certain member organization that is simply extending the offer for you to be a part of that chapter. It was a sweet moment for me to know that for the next four years of my life, I would be surrounded by women who I had grown to love, respect, admire, and cherish. There are times when college isn’t easy. Navigating through big milestones or hard times can be difficult when doing it alone. Luckily I have had over a hundred women by my side to help me through those moments. My sisterhood is always there for me- even when I didn’t know I truly needed them. As a woman, it’s so hard to grow up in a culture where it feels like we have to always critique, compare, or change who we are in order to fit in. When it came to my sorority experience, I knew that the women I called my sisters would always love me for who I was and who I wanted to be.
So as my years of the collegiate sorority experience are coming to an end, I challenge you today to ask yourself: “what do I want out of my college experience?” If the answer is a sense of belonging, authenticity, a strong community, and lifelong friendships, then joining a panhellenic sorority is for you. I am so thankful for all of the memories my sisters have given me. I know that no matter what happens in life, I will always have them by my side- and for that, I am forever grateful. I wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors!
