Pi Chi Land was filled with butterfly clips in everyone’s hair, water refills in Stanley cups, new best friends you just met, and fanning girls with customized identifiers.

In August, I served as a Recruitment Counselor (Pi Chi) alongside 131 other Pi Chis and the Recruitment Executive Board to ensure the entire week went as smoothly as possible for the Potential New Members (PNMs). Each Pi Chi was assigned 14-15 PNMs to guide through the recruitment process. We were the PNM's confidant, shoulder to cry on, and, like I told my girls, “a new best friend.” This was accomplished by completely disaffiliating from my sorority from May until the night before Bid Day to give an unbiased look into sorority life.

Making 15 new best friends

I met my PNMs during the Kickoff Dinner before the festivities of the week began. They were able to meet other PNMs for the first time and enjoy a free meal from The Edge at Central Dining. The next day we jumped straight into the Ice Water Tea round where we watched videos created by each of the 18 sororities. After that came the Philanthropy, Sisterhood, and Preference rounds. Throughout each round, my PNMs were able to talk through their feelings with me about each house, if they chose to. The recruitment process brings extreme emotions, but also new connections with girls that are going through the exact same process.

Pi Chi Sisterhood

Being a part of a sorority sisterhood is one thing, but having a sisterhood within the entire Panhellenic community takes the cake. There is representation from each of the 18 Auburn sororities among the 131 Pi Chis. I gained lifelong friendships among the other Pi Chis in the short 12 days we were all working together. The hotel we stayed at became Pi Chi Central, where we would walk into each other's rooms to hang out after the long days in the Alabama sun (or torrential rain). My roommates, Courtney and Daryn, went from girls I had only seen in passing, to friends who now know too much about me. We spent our late nights putting tinsel in each other's hair and our early mornings in the 7 Brew drive-thru line for a coffee boost.

You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home

At the end of the very long week, Bid Day arrived. All of my PNMs opened their bids and ran home to their new sorority! I revealed my sorority affiliation the night before, which allowed me to also run back home to ZTA on Bid Day— for the second time. I popped into each of my girls' new sororities to get a quick photo and a big hug before they enjoyed the rest of the day with their new sisters.

Seeing Recruitment from a third point-of-view was an experience I will never forget, and I can’t wait for next year!

Be well, Auburn.