By: Margaux Campion PC '21
Packing up and moving to a new place is always a daunting thought. Whether going to college is moving down the street or across the country, it is a new and uncharted experience that is often very nerve racking. When I graduated high school, it was a bittersweet moment for me. I was happier than ever to move out of my hometown and live on my own but I was also terrified of the idea of not having the people I grew up with and the parents who raised me. To be completely honest, when I graduated, recruitment was the last thing on my mind. I was focused on what to buy, where and with who I was going to live, and how to prepare to embark on this new journey. But eventually, my nerves began to melt and I became extremely excited for this change and for the recruitment process. Recruitment week is hard for many reasons but I feel the most difficult is deciphering what a real connection with a chapter feels like. From the beginning, I knew I had some sort of connection with Phi Mu and this feeling only grew as the week went on. Phi Mu became the chapter that made me truly want to be involved in Greek life; I wanted to be a part of what the women of Phi Mu had. The week entirely was exhilarating with hints of nerve and much exhaustion, ending with a grand finale like nothing I had ever experienced before. Bid Day was the first time I had been around so many strangers that treated me like family. Once school started and the first day jitters faded, I didn’t know what to expect of how Phi Mu would incorporate itself into my day to day life. But to my surprise, I spent almost every week day at the house: eating, doing homework, watching tv, and getting to know my newly found sisters. These women became my best friends, my support systems, my tutors, my lunch dates, and so much more. Before recruitment, I was so nervous about not getting along with the women in my chapter or not being accepted. I had heard the horror stories from family members and friends about the “mean girls of Greek life” and the incredibly present “paying for your friends” joke. But Phi Mu threw all of these nerves out the window. My new member educator, Katelyn Sears, a senior at the time, felt like someone I had known my whole life. She was the first person who showed us what a sister should feel like, and lead by example. During the new member period, we are grouped with other women in our pledge class who are known as our “phi fam” led by our “phi mom.” My phi fam was my first friend group in Phi Mu and the first women in my pledge class that I bonded with. Phi Mu gives you a foundation with the women in the chapter, a foundation that creates lifelong friendships that are deep and genuine. Another example of this foundation Phi Mu gave me was getting my big. Sydney talked to me round 3 of recruitment, the preference ceremony, was my Bid Day buddy, and eventually, my big. We have been inseparable ever since. Sydney is the embodiment of my love for this chapter and what it has given me. She is my best friend, eternally. Finally, Phi Mu not only gives you a foundation for friendships, but foundation for your future. I was heavily encouraged by all my sisters, old and new, to apply for a position when cabinet applications came out. I have always been passionate about marketing and social media applications, so I applied under the public relations team. I am now currently serving as Graphic Design Chair. I love this job and the collaborations I get to participate in daily. The team I work with consists of some of the brightest, most creative, and compassionate women I have ever met. This position gives me constructive experience and teaches me valuable lessons every day that may one day prepare me for a career I have always dreamed of. Similarly, Phi Mu was the reason I participated in Dance Marathon at FSU this past year, an experience that has changed my life indefinitely. One year ago, I would have never expected to have gained so much from this chapter. Phi Mu has blown my expectations out of the water and has made me feel loved and appreciated, even at my lowest. These women have loved and supported me from day one and I would not give them up for the world. I am eternally grateful and overwhelmingly happy about the next three years and lifetime as a Phi Mu.
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