I AM PSE: The stories of Somnia and Madeline - the PNM’s
I AM PSE: The stories of Somnia and Madeline - the PNM’s
By Somnia Keesey and Madeline Collins
Well, it’s that time of the year again…
Recruitment season.
It’s a time filled with chaos and committee meetings. A countless amount of google docs, sheets, and surveys. A time where your email inbox is becoming filled with a numerous amount of Zoom links and reminders. Your google calendar continues to grow by the day.
And oh, don’t forget to iron out that blazer that has been sitting in your closest collecting dust for the past few months.
To put it simply, recruitment season can be summed up by one word -- hell.
Whether you’re in the middle of the flames (Anthony, you and your team are amazing) or you are simply jumping into them every once in a while, we can all agree that the rushing season is no cake walk.
But as Madeline and I search through our schedules to find a timeslot to sign up for the first round of interviews for the spring semester, we reflect and reminisce about what it was like to be on the other side of the Zoom call.
Madeline and I want to take the time to tell you what it was like for us during this hectic season of recruitment -- before we were official brothers.
These are the stories of Madeline and Somnia -- the PNM’s.
Somnia
I remember the first time I thought I might want to join a business fraternity. It was my second semester of my freshman year, and a bunch of my friends from my hall were going through the process of recruitment.
I was a previous Farmer gal, but I quickly changed my major from marketing to undecided during the first initial meeting during freshman year orientation.
After hearing about what Farmer would entail, I hated the idea of being a part of it.
Over the course of my freshman year I had declared a major in Journalism and International Studies, and I loved it. Writing was my passion and it was something I knew I could succeed in. But, even though I was so unbelievably happy with my majors, I knew something was still missing.
The journalism department at Miami is small. Like. Very small.
There aren't a lot of resources that some of the other departments on campus have, and I knew this. I loved the department I was a part of immensely, but I continued to long for something more.
And hearing the stories that my freshman year friends would share about their experiences in their fraternities, I knew that what they had, is what I was missing.
So I told myself that fall semester of my sophomore year, I’m going to rush a business fraternity. I had no idea which one...but I knew that I was going to rush one nonetheless.
I stumbled upon Pi Sigma Epsilon’s website during my quest to find a fraternity that I felt like my non-Farmer self could possibly get into. Even though I had spent the majority of my high school career prepping to be a business major, going to business summer camps, etc. I was still so unbelievably petrified.
Right before my first round interview, as I was getting dressed, I remember looking in the mirror and thinking to myself,
“You are such a fraud.”
Even though I knew that PSE accepted all majors, I was so worried that as soon as I would open my mouth -- they would know that I am not like them.
They would know that I have never taken the “core” before.
Or that I don’t know what CSE stands for.
Or that the thought of walking into Farmer leaves me paralyzed.
But, despite all of those doubtful thoughts -- ha!
Look at me now.
I persevered through probably the most intimidating process that I have ever gone through, and came out on top.
Not only am I just in PSE -- I got to work with Procter & Gamble for my new member project, work on the J-Term project as a content creator for the Gamma Gamma Gazette, work as a member for the PR committee, be apart of the Empowermé J-Term project and become the chapters DEI chair.
All in my first semester.
I would never change the path that I took with my majors for the world. My tiny MJF department holds a very special place in my heart. But, I’m glad that I decided to do something that scared me. I’m glad that I looked beyond what I was comfortable with.
So my advice to you, if you are scared or intimidated by this recruitment process -- just take that first step. It’s terrifying, trust me, I know. But don’t do it for your present day self…
Do it for the person that is going to be looking back on this time and saying,
“Thank God I did that.”
Madeline
I have been through the rush process three times.
I think about the person I was the first time I rushed in the fall of 2019. I remember wearing my brand new black suit jacket and dress pants walking towards the giant white columns holding up “Farmer School of Business” in sparkling gold letters. I felt so out of place even though I was a business major walking through the doors to head to the table to check in for my interview. I wanted to be in a fraternity because I felt so out of place at Farmer and I wanted to find dedicated people that I could turn to for guidance in my professional journey.
I was handed a name tag and sat down on a bench waiting for my time to enter into the room. When I was called into the room, the whole process went by like a blur as I answered questions thrown at me from four PSE members. My whole attitude was to get in and get out as quick as possible, because of how anxious I felt sitting there feeling like they were dissecting everything I was saying. I rushed into answers instead of taking my time to think of the right words to say. I didn't even ask a question at the end of the interview.
I wish someone had told me before going into that room to be present in the moment. Each one of those interviewers are there to get to know more about you. There is no perfect answer to the questions that they are asking. What matters is that in your answers you are showing yourself as cheesy as that sounds.
Going into my most recent interview last semester, I decided that I was going to enjoy the process because at the end of the day the decision is out of my hands. I set up my laptop in front of a window for good lighting, put on that same black suit jacket and entered that zoom call with a clear head.
I took time to talk about things that I was passionate about and got to know the two people interviewing me a little better. I left that zoom call feeling confident in what I had said and I hope that everyone rushing this semester feels the exact same way when they hit the “end meeting” button.
If it does not work out this time around, I encourage you to try again next semester. PSE wants to see people come back time and time again until they get it right. You will never know how long it will take. For me it was three. For others it was only one. The important thing is to learn from your past mistakes and enjoy the process no matter how stressful it may be.
