A Few Lessons Gleaned from Rush

by Bryce Zaremby

Rush! It is a culture synonymous with Greek life at Washington and Lee.  Every year upper classmen meet the new First-Years. We meet them through classes, at coop eating loaded fries, and through socializing in the country. Rush is a long and grueling process, where a lot of money is spent and many events are thrown.  I would like to congratulate all the upperclassmen on completing another year of recruitment. I wish the incoming First-Years good luck with their journey next fall term.

In fact, our journey in rush did not even start at W&L. It is a part of everyday life. The process of rush and the skills gained from it are something that you are stuck with forever. The process of rush involves meeting new people, throwing big events, and building friendships. Rush took place in high school, when you tried to recruit freshmen to join your debate team or squash club. It is the same with the college recruitment process. Working at the admissions office, we send people to countless college fairs meeting new people and throwing events to impress them, like accepted students day and Johnson Weekend. Rush is also a concept that follows you into the real world. Investment banking companies like JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank come down to W&L to rush kids to join their company. As an adult, you will utilize rush skills to sway clients to invest in you, and to join your company (fraternity/sorority).

The best advice I can give is to enjoy the process and take in some experience.  You will make some amazing memories and gain some useful life skills. It is a lot of fun meeting new people, making friends, and throwing amazing parties. Do not be in a “rush” to get through it, because the marathon has only just begun.