Bid Day: It’s the day that every girl has dreamed of ever since her letters of recommendation were sent off in the mail. It’s the light at the end of the tunnel after an exhausting (but fun!) week of recruitment. But above all, it’s the day that marks the beginning of a lifetime of sisterhood and love. At UT, Bid Day is one of the most joyous days of the year as the newest pledge classes run across campus to their new homes and into the arms of their new family.
In the moments before tearing open the envelope holding my bid card, I was filled with a nervous excitement as I impatiently waited to discover which sisterhood I would have the honor to be apart of. When I pulled out my card and it read “Zeta Tau Alpha,” it was a matter of seconds before my eyes filled with happy tears as I pushed my way through the Hogg auditorium doors to greet my new sisters.
The pictures of Bid Day can’t do the event justice, as there’s no way to capture the excited energy and instantaneous love felt by every girl in the chapter. I ran into the arms of my amazing Bid Day Buddy, and soaked in my first few exciting moments of being a Zeta. Decked out in a crown and holding a sunflower, I posed for pictures with my pledge class and even my entire sorority. It was hard to stop smiling when I knew I was surrounded by my new best friends! There to share the experience with me was my mom, who was now also my sister, as she is a Zeta herself. In between eating delicious food and checking out my Bid Day basket, I made sure to stop and hug everyone I saw, because after all, we were family now! Shortly after the festivities at the house ended, the new members of PC ’16 packed our bags and headed out to Camp Balcon Springs on a new member retreat. The retreat was an awesome way to make friends within my class and get to know the amazing women who were now my sisters. We got sorted into our founder’s groups that we would be in for the next four years, played getting-to-know-you games, and had a rockin’ PC ’16 dance party. The following morning, we spent time on the lake before heading back to campus. Although I was exhausted, I felt so blessed to have spent the past 24 hours with such an amazing group of girls.
From Bid Day itself to our new member retreat, everything I participated in was a huge reminder of why Zeta stood out to me as a chapter, and why I knew I had found my home. At the house, the sense of love and immediate belonging was overwhelming from the moment I ran through the tunnel of older girls welcoming me home. The sorority women were happy to have us, and the new pledge class couldn’t have been happier to be there. It sounds cheesy, but when I opened up my bid card, I instantly gained a family who accepts me and loves me for who I am. The new member retreat only deepened those feelings of love and belonging. Right off the bat, I was given the opportunity to spend quality time with my new sisters so that I could truly get to know them before I returned to campus. Taking the time to devote our attention to getting to know each other was such a meaningful experience. I truly felt like I knew my pledge class, and it was a wonderful way to start off my relationships with my new sisters. ZTA really does put sisterhood first, and I felt that for sure during Bid Day. I’m so excited for the next four years and the friendships that I know will last far beyond that.
ZLAM,
McKenna Richards
PC ‘16
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