After an entire day and a half of waiting, I couldn't wait any longer. I had planned a trip to College Station to visit several of my friends for the last time for a while and I couldn't possibly wait any longer to leave. Sure enough 30 minutes down the road my mom called and said that my package had finally arrived. In retrospect it was probably a good thing. It gave me incentive to head home a day early for a weekend with my family.
When I finally sat down to open and sort through its contents I made sure my brother and the dogs out of the house as to not distract me or spill anything on it it. The first packet was a welcome letter from Sarah, our boss. In every exchange along the way between Sarah and our lucky group of 16 she goes out of her way to make us feel like we are their priority and encourages us to do what we need to do in order to take care of ourselves.
It told us what to prepare for as far as convention and training are concerned and more importantly a large portion of the packet was devoted to what and how to pack. A lot of the tips and list of items I had already been aware of, but it still reinforced the importance of practicing packing in the coming weeks (almost only TWO WEEKS LEFT)!!
The final four sheet in the packet were to be filled out and sent to Sarah.
-Our TLC Travel Profile included our information about our "Home" airport and all of our Frequent Flyer information. Yayy for everyones key question being answered. Yes I get to keep my travel points!! 90% of the time when I tell people what I will be doing next year, they ask me about the points.
-The payroll information sheet provided IO (international office) with the bank information they needed for direct depositing my paychecks into my account while I am on the road.
-TLC Meal Profile so they know what to feed each of us during our training. Nothing too picky. I pretty much love all food (typically a huge problem for me).
-The final page was a TLC Visit Request form. "Its not a guarantee, but it doesn't hurt to ask" is what it reads on the top of the page. My requests include: Kansas State, UNLV, Anywhere in Georgia or South Carolina, University of Texas, Oklahoma State, LSU, and Texas State University, UNC, PennState, Anywhere in Michigan, ect.
Aside from the worksheets was the bible of ZTA recruitment "Ready, Set, Recruit". The instructions inside asked us to read through it and take note of any questions or concepts we might need to go over in depth during training. Since I did not attend NLC last year when the material was presented and I have never held a recruitment position I am very excited to sit down and explore all that is recruitment. Post-it notes in hand, I plan to curl up with it the next couple of evenings.
With 16 days till this big adventure begins I cant help but think of how excited I have remained since that very first email announcing that I was even approved for a face to face interview. I can not wait for what is to come, as I am sure the excitement and butterflies will only intensify.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Could it be true... is my job truly this AWESOME
Yayy!! Welcome home, New Home. The luggage I am absolutely in love with.
A. its duffle
B. its orange, my favorite color (for this week anyway)
C. they match each other
D. They piggy back each other so I wont have my hands too full
E. They are as big as they can get for their respective check and carry on purpose
I am starting to think that you don't truly know your self until you have had to prepare to live out of a suit case for a year. To my fellow TLCs you will soon know I am very weird about things matching. Its odd too what I decide is okay to match and what is not okay to match. I just recently learned that I either have an OCD issue with matching or collecting things that collect things... Case in point.
New Computer/Technology Cases super cute matching computer, camera and video camera covers I ordered from www.fabrixcases.com. They have the cutest patterns and they really do protect your most valuable items.
Eagle Creek Packing System, as seen at the Container Store's amazing Summer Travel Sale. In theory these are going to my saving grace when it comes to saving space in my beautiful new luggage. Check it out: www.containerstore.com
Jon Hart, the quintessential icon of Texas Tech sorority life. The go-to grad gift in the state of Texas and a must have in the classroom. While on Panhellenic in 2008 we visited the South East Panhellenic Convention in Atlanta, GA and it was clear as day who was from further north and who had flocked north for the event. If you were rocking Vera Bradley you were from some north east coast county and those of us from the "country" sported our handmade leather Jon Hart totes and chico make up cases. That year, our Panhellenic president even gifted each of us at the end of our term with matching Jon Hart gear as a goodbye gift.
As mentioned before, I have had my reservations about the craze that is Vera Bradley. I had a friend that had moved from Connecticut when she was younger and was still very close with cousins and family there, and every time she came back from a trip up north she had collected the newest of what Vera had to offer. I protested for as long as I possibly could. In the past two years I gave in and bought an ID case/keychain piece that replaced a similar ZTA one I had been given as a freshman, then I found a eye glass case that I thought was kind of cute and finally over the holidays I purchased a flat iron cover (its Jon Hart counterpart cost $80). And NOW with all this travel on the brain I have fully given in and have a full collection. The roll up toiletry bag and a lined ditty bag for my random shower and hair products.
There have been several items I have found are going to cause me some trouble when packing. This is probably the worst of it at this point. I know I just need to go to the department store and ask if they have alternative caps to the bottle, but seriously who designed this?
My parents are super crazed about me making sure to keep my nicer jewelry with me at all times when I travel. Found this handy little thing at the Container Store and plan to keep my nicer accessories and my badge in it and then that inside of my carry on tote. I hope that it is helpful in keeping my necklaces and rings untangled. Oh, yeah and did I mention I have a travel receipt holder that also MATCHES it!!
Aghhh I have a problem!! But aren't they so PRETTY!!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Packing Reminders
I got super super lucky that after Ms. Ensor called and offered me the position in late February it was announced that Gamma Tau (Texas Tech University ZTA chapter) would be having our yearly chapter visit from current TLC, Annette, that next weekend. Completely in the dark about the details of the job, still kinda am at this point, I was pumped to go straight to the source. Annette and I were able to cover the basics of the job and she even shared with me Sharon's videos and pictures on FaceBook to give me a better idea of the things she was explaining. On the last night she was in town we sat down together and she wrote down and gave her suggestions for packing and travel. Here is what I have. It is certainly not everything, but thought I would share.
Badge
Turquoise and Gray Pledge Ribbon
Minimal Accessories
Nylons
Laundry Bag
Airborne
Headache Meds
Band Aids
Business Card Holder
Stationary & Postage
Travel Wallet (something to keep receipts in)
Tote Bag
Pencil Bag
A few Blank CDs and DVDs
Flash Drive/ External Hard drive
Tennis Shoes
Black Pumps
Dress Sandals
Shower Sandals
White Shoes
2-3 Jeans
2-3 Dresses
2 Cardigans
1 Business outfit
2 Sweatshirts
4-6 Nice Shirts (not anything you have to iron)
4 T-shirts
White dress
Pref Dress
Cute Pajamas
Black Pants
Windbreaker/Rain Jacket
Don't Bring
Airplane Pillow
More than one tote
Too many t-shirts (she had me pegged)
These are just some thoughts Annette had. I will post later the things I intend to pack A) to cross reference and help to make sure none of us overlook anythings B) So that I can keep track of my life while I am on the road and have sort of an only inventory C) because it just seems so much more real to have it written down, writing down that I am actually packing 4 white plain v-necks will hopefully register as CRAZY and I can reconsider.
Badge
Turquoise and Gray Pledge Ribbon
Minimal Accessories
Nylons
Laundry Bag
Airborne
Headache Meds
Band Aids
Business Card Holder
Stationary & Postage
Travel Wallet (something to keep receipts in)
Tote Bag
Pencil Bag
A few Blank CDs and DVDs
Flash Drive/ External Hard drive
Tennis Shoes
Black Pumps
Dress Sandals
Shower Sandals
White Shoes
2-3 Jeans
2-3 Dresses
2 Cardigans
1 Business outfit
2 Sweatshirts
4-6 Nice Shirts (not anything you have to iron)
4 T-shirts
White dress
Pref Dress
Cute Pajamas
Black Pants
Windbreaker/Rain Jacket
Don't Bring
Airplane Pillow
More than one tote
Too many t-shirts (she had me pegged)
These are just some thoughts Annette had. I will post later the things I intend to pack A) to cross reference and help to make sure none of us overlook anythings B) So that I can keep track of my life while I am on the road and have sort of an only inventory C) because it just seems so much more real to have it written down, writing down that I am actually packing 4 white plain v-necks will hopefully register as CRAZY and I can reconsider.
Packing Away Lost Little Treasures
Today, per the request of my disgruntled parents, I finally sat down and cleaned out the last of my boxes that I have stored at their house while on the road. The majority of my stuff is in storage already, but I pulled out a few boxes that had old school supplies, keepsakes and hopefully somewhere.. my passport. I found a million thank you and birthday cards that warmed my heart and made me realize just how much I am going to miss Tech, my friends and family over the next year while I am gone. I got really excited when I broke into my sparkly pink and purple ZTA box that my big had given me on the night of my initiation. Over the past four years I had filled it full of pictures, cards, programs, name tags and enough ZTA stationary to fill an entire backpack.
I also found a poem in honor of a scholarship I was awarded for my service and involvement in the Texas Tech Greek community. The scholarship is in honor of Callie M. Chalk, and the recipient each year is revealed through a poem preformed at the Annual Greek Awards Banquet. Kinda cute, I thought I would share.
Leadership, service and academic success
Are all qualities that Callie did stress
The young lady receiving this award
In these areas has always worked hard
I feel confident that she will attest
Panhellenic events may be the best
The Greek Guild for Habitat she took to Heart
She had to make certain each group did its part
Numerous other activities she can boast
Photography projects she may like the most
Convention delegate can have some fun
Student Housing may have kept her on the run
Her sisters definitely think she's great
Her chapter contributions certainly rate
Scholareship, slating, and secretary to exec
They are sure glad she came to Tech
Advertising and Italian may be quite tough
Taking eighteen hours can be rough
Especially with so much on her plate
She must have to study very late
A silber and turquoise carpenter's square
As a new member she did wear
White violets she knows how to grow
Strawberries and bunnies make her heart glow
I think my hints have been quite clear
For all of her efforts, we do cheer
Harriette Baker, your crown shines bright
Zeta Tau Alpha is certainly proud tonight
April 2, 2009
At Tech we are asked to take an online personality profile that assigns each person their own signature themes. When I ran across them, they were in a pile of material from my freshman seminar class, I skimmed over the descriptions and found myself blown away by just how true they remain to who I am both as a person and a leader. Knowing my own strengths over the coming year will hopefully help me to remain true to who I am and how I can contribute.
-Context: People especially talented in the Context theme enjoy thinking about the past. They understand the present by researching its history.
-Strategic: Create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.
-Significance: Want to be very important in the eyes of others. They are independent and want to be recognized
-Deliberative: Best described by the serious care they take in making decisions or choices. They anticipate the obstacles.
-Analytical: Search for reasons and causes. They have the ability to think about all the factors that might affect a situation.
I found my folder and papers from attending national convention in 2008. I sat it aside and after I finally found my passport and filed away the rest of my things so that my parents could finally have their house back in order, I sat down and read through the program of events, state of the fraternity address, Themis and all of the officer reports given that year. My heart skipped every time my eye skimmed through information about the actions and service of the TLCs from that biennium, nerdy and obsessive, I know. However, I just can't get enough.
ZTA is about to get so much bigger than my massive stack of t-shirts or my pretty pink memory box, and I wish so badly that I could explain it to those outside of the Greek community and even make some of my very own sisters understand and appreciate just how much work goes into such an amazing organization and cause. I know these are concepts you have to experience in order to understand, but I am feeling pretty alone as I sit 600 miles away from my chapter and 25 days away from what I know will be the most memorable convention of my lifetime. I find myself on our ZTA TLC 2010-2011 facebook page over a dozen times a day just so I can share in the excitement that so many of my friends and family back home are completely sick of hearing about.
This whole thing feels a little like when I left high school for college and I was just so excited to be surrounded by other students who were excited to be leaving home and getting a degree, making new friends and having a lot of fun. It was so refreshing to leave the townies and debbie downers at home. Not that my college friends are now playing the role of debbie downers, but they don't share in my same excitement about leadership, travel and Greek Life. I have stopped trying to explain the TLC program to my friends as a job. A) because people just don't get it, and when I say I am a consultant it always inspires a follow up questions, then as I get further and further into the job description they begin to think that I am just some silly sorority girl that can't let go of my collegiate lifestyle, and maybe that partially the truth, BUT B) I doubt any of them are going to have co-workers that will as supportive as the 16 women I will be working with over the next year. I cant wait!! 25 days!!
I also found a poem in honor of a scholarship I was awarded for my service and involvement in the Texas Tech Greek community. The scholarship is in honor of Callie M. Chalk, and the recipient each year is revealed through a poem preformed at the Annual Greek Awards Banquet. Kinda cute, I thought I would share.
Leadership, service and academic success
Are all qualities that Callie did stress
The young lady receiving this award
In these areas has always worked hard
I feel confident that she will attest
Panhellenic events may be the best
The Greek Guild for Habitat she took to Heart
She had to make certain each group did its part
Numerous other activities she can boast
Photography projects she may like the most
Convention delegate can have some fun
Student Housing may have kept her on the run
Her sisters definitely think she's great
Her chapter contributions certainly rate
Scholareship, slating, and secretary to exec
They are sure glad she came to Tech
Advertising and Italian may be quite tough
Taking eighteen hours can be rough
Especially with so much on her plate
She must have to study very late
A silber and turquoise carpenter's square
As a new member she did wear
White violets she knows how to grow
Strawberries and bunnies make her heart glow
I think my hints have been quite clear
For all of her efforts, we do cheer
Harriette Baker, your crown shines bright
Zeta Tau Alpha is certainly proud tonight
April 2, 2009
At Tech we are asked to take an online personality profile that assigns each person their own signature themes. When I ran across them, they were in a pile of material from my freshman seminar class, I skimmed over the descriptions and found myself blown away by just how true they remain to who I am both as a person and a leader. Knowing my own strengths over the coming year will hopefully help me to remain true to who I am and how I can contribute.
-Context: People especially talented in the Context theme enjoy thinking about the past. They understand the present by researching its history.
-Strategic: Create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.
-Significance: Want to be very important in the eyes of others. They are independent and want to be recognized
-Deliberative: Best described by the serious care they take in making decisions or choices. They anticipate the obstacles.
-Analytical: Search for reasons and causes. They have the ability to think about all the factors that might affect a situation.
I found my folder and papers from attending national convention in 2008. I sat it aside and after I finally found my passport and filed away the rest of my things so that my parents could finally have their house back in order, I sat down and read through the program of events, state of the fraternity address, Themis and all of the officer reports given that year. My heart skipped every time my eye skimmed through information about the actions and service of the TLCs from that biennium, nerdy and obsessive, I know. However, I just can't get enough.
ZTA is about to get so much bigger than my massive stack of t-shirts or my pretty pink memory box, and I wish so badly that I could explain it to those outside of the Greek community and even make some of my very own sisters understand and appreciate just how much work goes into such an amazing organization and cause. I know these are concepts you have to experience in order to understand, but I am feeling pretty alone as I sit 600 miles away from my chapter and 25 days away from what I know will be the most memorable convention of my lifetime. I find myself on our ZTA TLC 2010-2011 facebook page over a dozen times a day just so I can share in the excitement that so many of my friends and family back home are completely sick of hearing about.
This whole thing feels a little like when I left high school for college and I was just so excited to be surrounded by other students who were excited to be leaving home and getting a degree, making new friends and having a lot of fun. It was so refreshing to leave the townies and debbie downers at home. Not that my college friends are now playing the role of debbie downers, but they don't share in my same excitement about leadership, travel and Greek Life. I have stopped trying to explain the TLC program to my friends as a job. A) because people just don't get it, and when I say I am a consultant it always inspires a follow up questions, then as I get further and further into the job description they begin to think that I am just some silly sorority girl that can't let go of my collegiate lifestyle, and maybe that partially the truth, BUT B) I doubt any of them are going to have co-workers that will as supportive as the 16 women I will be working with over the next year. I cant wait!! 25 days!!
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