Cat's Out of the Bag (A Peek Inside My Recruitment Tote)

Hellllloooooo world!

Recruitment started yesterday and I had the best time in the entire world! I loved meeting all the girls from different sororities and learning more about them. Everyone I talked to was super nice and was interested in me as much as I was in them. I loved being able to link a conversation to a funny story or event in my life and think it makes me more memorable as a PNM.

I lost my voice yesterday morning and so the first few rounds were a little rough. At my school, we don't have houses, so the sororities meet in various halls and ballrooms around campus and we talk there! Over 300 girls were going through the recruitment process, so there was a lot of yelling when the halls were echo-y. But by the end of the day, I managed to pull through and most people couldn't even tell my voice was gone. (Thankfully when I woke up this morning I actually had my voice back!)

Packing a tote bag the night before was more stressful than it seemed. There are always a ton of little things that you don't want to forget, but also wouldn't even think you need!

Here's what was inside mine:

For starters, I would recommend a bag that is bright and colorful. I used an LL Bean Nylon Everyday Lightweight Tote with my monogram on it to distinguish it from everyone else's bag. A lot of girls used Longchamps; if you do so too, I would suggest bringing something colorful so that it doesn't blend in with everyone else's bag!

The first thing I knew I would need was food. I packed granola bars, biscotti, nuts, an apple, and a bagel from the dining hall. Along with that I brought my Camelbak since I knew my voice may need lots of water and rest in between rounds.

I packed a small makeup bag full of various essentials: chapstick, lipstick, a compact mirror, mints, gum, tissues, and cough drops, as well as a few "just in case" feminine products and my asthma inhaler (or any other medication you need). I liked having the smaller bag inside of my big tote because I reached for it so frequently, and it contained all of the essentials!

Along with that, I made sure that I brought an umbrella, as well as a good pair of shoes to walk around in. The weather forecast for yesterday had predicted a wintry mix, and I didn't want to be stuck without my rain gear while walking to and from the different parties. I brought my Bean Boots with me yesterday, but on the next two nights, I will probably swap them out for a pair of comfortable loafers or Uggs. A pair of sweatpants is also going to be a must for Preference Night, since it will be chilly walking around in just a dress. I can throw sweats on over my dress while walking and quickly change when I get to each location! Brilliance. A hat and gloves are also super important because it's so cold right now.

On top of it all, I of course wanted to have my phone and wristlet/ID case, as well as a backup charger. Even though I didn't use my phone except during our break, it was important to have the charger with me since we spent six hours at parties. And, of course, I wouldn't be able to swipe back into my dorm without my Student ID!

I decided to wear a peacoat over my outfit yesterday, and luckily I was able to stuff that into my totebag as well! If you're going through spring recruitment, feel free to change out some things (ie; the sweatpants and heavy jacket) for other items that may be more important. Think sunglasses, deodorant, hairties, etc!

Hope you all enjoyed! I can't wait to share the rest of my recruitment experience with you!