To the Girl Going Through Virtual Sorority Recruitment...

If you're planning on rushing, you probably know by now that recruitment is completely virtual due to COVID-19. It's something you never expected to happen. You were probably excited to pick out your cute outfits, meet the girls in your Pi Chi group, and become part of a sorority. I know I was when I went through the process. But now, COVID has made things a little different and possibly even more stressful for you.

I don't want to dismiss that many people have been affected by this personally, financially, and in more ways than one. You may be one of those people and if that's the case, I hurt with you. I know how much uncertainty there is in the world right now and I feel that with you. COVID-19 was something we never expected, never wanted, and never thought would hit this hard. But I also want you to know that it's okay to be sad and upset. It's okay to be disappointed in losing the end of your senior year (or your freshman year if you're a sophomore), the first month of in-person classes, and the normal rush experience.

This recruitment season is going to be different. Will it be awkward at times? Probably. Will there be some technical difficulties? Hopefully not, but maybe. Will it be stressful at times? Possibly. But trust me when I say that the girls recruiting you are just as upset about all of this as you. For them, recruitment is one of the most exciting parts of the year because they get to meet amazing girls like you. Now with COVID, they are disappointed that they won't be able to do that in the more personal way that they usually do, and they may even be just as nervous about this whole process. It's going to be different for both them and you.

Different can be weird. It can make us feel nervous and uncomfortable. But it can also lead us down new paths that we never thought of taking. So I encourage you to embrace the different.

Embrace that this fall semester will look a little different than you expected and look forward to what lies ahead. Embrace the awkwardness that you may find throughout recruitment and run with it. Roll with the punches. Embrace and trust the process. You may hear the phrase, "trust the process," a lot, but I really do mean it. Trust your gut feelings. Trust your heart. Trust in being yourself. If you're goofy when you're nervous, be goofy. Just relax and breathe.

Remember that this is only a sorority. You can find your best friends in a sorority, but you can also find them outside of one. I know I have found mine in BOTH. Regardless of whether or not you join one, your college experience is not defined by being a part of Greek life. I'm not saying that it can't play a major role because it can and I know it has for me, but your Clemson experience is defined by YOU. You are more than your social media. You are more than someone behind a screen. Your purpose and identity is more than being affiliated with a campus organization. Your passions and drive shape who you are. Again, I'm not saying you can't find your purpose in a sorority because you can. But I'm also saying that it can be found in other places too.

You may go through this process and realize that a sorority is not for you. That is okay. It's perfectly normal actually. I just want you to know that you will find your people. It may not be the first semester of college. I know for me it wasn't, but you will find them.

Whether you are reading this as someone is who is rushing, considering rushing, or not rushing at all and just wanted to read this, I want you to know that you have someone who is thinking and praying for you. Not just for peace and comfort as you go through this process, but also as you start off the fall semester. Adjusting to online can be hard and different. But like I said before, embrace the different. Be willing to take on the challenges and speed bumps that might slow you down.

Let's face it. The unknown can be scary (cue Into the Unknown by Elsa from Frozen here lol). But I encourage you to be brave enough to jump in. Take chances, trust in yourself, and live fearlessly.

Recruitment is a different experience, even more so now with COVID-19. But accept the difference and anticipate it. Turn the nerves and stress into excitement. Find comfort in the fact that you are not alone in any of this. Lean on your family, your roommate, your friends, your Pi Chi, and the new people you may meet. This fall semester is unlike anything you or I ever imagined, but I hope you look forward to what's ahead. I know I am.

My hope is that you have more reassurance now than you did when you first started reading this, but if not that's okay too. I wish you the absolute best with recruitment and starting your fall semester. Just remember: you got this!

With all my Clemson love,

Kathryn