Not rushing? Not in a social club?
How you can still enjoy Rush & Induction Weeks
January 14, 2019
- Daryn McMinnRight after the “most wonderful time of the year” comes what can sometimes feel like
the loneliest time of the year. For “indies,” those of us who are not involved in
a social club at Ouachita, Rush Week and Induction Week can totally change your normal
social interactions because your club friends are so busy. But don’t worry! I’m here
to tell you that it is possible for you to survive those first two weeks back from
Christmas break – and have fun doing it.
To prepare yourself for those two weeks, start making a mental list of friends or
people you know who aren’t involved in or going to join a social club. I know it might
seem like an impossible task to think of even a handful of people to add to that list,
but I promise, we’re out here if you look hard enough! And even if you can’t think
of anybody, I guarantee you’ll find some of us to hang out with. We’re the only people
you’ll ever see anytime after class!
Once you have indies in mind, be purposeful about spending time with them. You will
especially want to make sure you find someone to eat meals with in the caf so that
you’re not feeling excluded amidst conversations about rush parties and difficult
induction duties. I personally like to find one really close friend whom I can always
count on to eat my meals with, but it’s nice to switch it up sometimes and eat with
my other indie friends.
In addition to mealtimes, be intentional about spending quality time with other indies
in the evenings and on weekends. It’s important to have fun with others while your
social club friends are out doing their fun things. Some of my favorite things to
do with other indies are to have movie nights in my dorm room, go on campus drive
arounds (CDAs) and take late night trips to Waffle House. This year, I’m also looking
forward to possibly making a trip up to Hot Springs with friends to walk around downtown,
which is a fun little adventure that I will always highly recommend to others.
There also will be several campus events you might want to add to your calendar during
Induction Week. Campus Ministries will host Pancake Palooza on Saturday, January 20,
at 9 a.m. in the Stu. It’s free! Campus Activites will host a movie and pizza night
on Tuesday, January 23, at 7:30 p.m. in the Stu (showing “The Incredibles 2”). Hannah
Pilcher, Resident Director, also will be hosting a girls’ event the evening of Friday,
January 18, for independent girls on campus. Ladies from all classes, not just freshman,
are welcome.
Give yourself a break during rush and pledge week if you’re an indie. Know that these
two weeks are unlike any other weeks on campus, and that you will have time with your
social club friends again once they’re over. Just don’t sit around waiting for your
semester to begin until after rush and pledge week. I promise, there’s much joy to
be found and many memories to be made with the other indies during this time! Pour
into each individual friendship you have and know that God has a purpose in bringing
you joy and love through each of those.
By Daryn McMinn, junior English major from Royse City, Texas.
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