Success Or Not? What is next?

I get a bit melancholy this time of year!  Summer has come and gone -- and fall is in full swing!  By now, all of the fall formal recruitments are over! (Ole Miss just completed theirs, which is the last campus to do Fall Sorority Recruitment in the Southeast.)  Now is the time I like to hear from our RB girls!  The photos snapped on bid day are always a great reward for me!  I love seeing the smiling faces in front of their new sorority home!  It pleases me when our girls have found their official "spot" -- I think of the great times a head of them in the next four years!  Some of the 'selfies' are too funny, but I love seeing them too!  Typically, the 'selfie' will portray a new member with a new-found sister, taken too closely, with some poignant head-gear appropriate for the group!  The pictures seem to always possess some touch of whimsy, which I always find so endearing with all of the activities of bid day!      

However, lately it seems I am hearing more and more from sophomore girls.  Girls who didn't come to us initially, or girls who didn't know about us, before their freshman year of sorority recruitment.  Girls, who for some reason, did not have guidance and direction in helping them navigate the sorority recruitment process. Too often they come disappointed or discouraged. 

The good news is: more and more campuses are incorporating an "upper-classmen" policy.  This is simply a rule that allows a sorority to offer bids to girls who are either sophomore-level or above in college placement, and their numbers are not to be counted against the "quota" amount allowed in formal recruitment pledge classes.  This is a good thing!  More girls can find their spot!

However, one thing I have noticed about these girls.  They are either really wounded or deeply hurt over their initial experience.  Often to the point of giving up on even trying again.  Young women let me encourage you right now!  Yes, ideally everyone goes through their Sorority Recruitment and finds their spot!  However, the reality is, I am hearing from these girls that did not have a good first experience!  It is not personal!  Let us help you understand this process and TRY AGAIN!  If you want to be a part of Greek life, you owe it to yourself to try again!  I truly believe it can work for you!

I was seeking ways to help instill a new found determination into these discouraged young women!  All of this got me thinking about successful people and what makes them successful?  What gives them the fortitude to persevere?  In investigating this aspect, I came across an article by Ilya Pozin called "12 Things All Successful People Do."  Guess what was #1 on the list?  You got it! #1 Boldly Fail!! It seems that successful people understand "the reality of failure" -- it will happen.  Pozin goes on to state: "The most successful people understand the reality of failure and its importance in finding success. While you may want to run and hide after you fail, you must learn from your mistakes to ensure you don't fail in the same way the second time around." Thank you Pozin!  

By the way -- #2 on that list was "Set goals."  I love how this is going!  Tomorrow I get to facilitate our "Early Bird" Workshop!  Goal Setting is on our list too!  Let Experience and Insight guide you!  All the best! Pat