If you think you know the code or the school, PM me! I would love to hear your guesses and I will gladly privately tell you which is which!
When we got our lists back the next day, I was ecstatic to see that I had gotten invited back everywhere I wanted! The only houses that had cut me were Lily and Tulip, my two least favorites. That meant I had 13 of the 15 chapters left, and since the maximum number of parties to attend for the second day was 10, I had to cut three. I cut Peony, Sunflower, and Orchid, without much hesitation. So that meant I had all of my favorites left! I felt invincible--a dangerous way to feel during rush, when anything can happen.
Nevertheless, I started my second day with a huge smile on my face, feeling great.
At my university, the second round is skits, so I was excited to get to see more of the sisters in action. My first house in the second round was Gardenia.
Gardenia - Just like the first day, I was again bowled over by how pretty some of these girls were. I liked them a little better this time around because their skit was HILARIOUS! I was laughing the whole time and they seemed like they'd put a lot of effort into rehearsing it and making it great. After the skit, I had a nice but generic conversation with one of the sisters. Everything seemed to be going really well except that when she was showing me into the kitchen, I stepped wrong on one of my heels and FELL!
I was laughing and I tried to play it off, but with the look the sister gave me, my heart sank. I was pretty sure I'd just gotten cut from Gardenia.
Marigold - Marigold's skit seemed like they'd thrown it together at the last minute. It wasn't very high energy or very well polished, but the girls on stage seemed to be having a great time with each other, which was encouraging. Afterwards, the sisters I spoke with where funny and honest, which was really enjoyable. We had an easy connection and I felt safe speaking openly with them--I didn't feel as judged as I did at Gardenia. When I left, despite the somewhat lackluster skit, I still felt good about Marigold.
Daisy - They had an amazing skit filled with tons of energy! They all seemed so excited and happy and the smiles on their faces were totally real. They wore ADORABLE shirts with their letters on them, and I found myself wishing I could wear their shirts as well--I felt like I'd be proud to announce that I was a Daisy to the whole campus. This time, I spoke to a girl who was a lot more risque than the girl I'd spoken with at first (the Disney girl). She made a joke that had me in stitches just seconds into our conversation! She was so funny and sweet that I found Daisy making its way to the top of my list.
Freesia - Freesia absolutely lived up to my high expectations. Their skit was fun, fresh, and full of energy. Afterwards, I had the chance to speak a lot of sisters who were all friendly, funny, and dazzlingly pretty. I loved every girl I met and felt like we had a very real connection. They even had several girls from my hometown (though no one I knew personally)--I felt so welcomed and happy. I was so nervous about making a good impression that sometimes I found myself rambling on or getting my words jumbled.
I just wanted the Freesias to want me as bad as I wanted them! When I left Freesia that night, I thought for sure that I was meant to be a Freesia.
Rose - I was bored at Rose a second time this round. Their skit wasn't very funny and they all seemed a little too shy to be free and adlib on stage--I'm not like at all, I was an actress in high school and I LOVE being goofy! They all were quiet and demure, but I'm a little more outgoing, opinionated, and sarcastic. I knew that I wouldn't fit in at Rose, even though they were one of my roommate's favorite houses (she was rushing too!). The girls were nice, but I couldn't see myself being friends with them. I did meet one girl that I really did like, but I knew Rose wasn't for me. I made a mental note to cut Rose if I had the opportunity.
Daffodil - I had loved Daffodil the first time around so I went in with high expectations, but their skit was definitely disappointing. However, the girls I spoke with afterwards more than made up for it! Their positive attitudes and friendly energy made me feel comfortable and at home. They felt so welcoming and accepting! I knew that I would go back to Daffodil if I could. I found myself really beginning to become attached to them, but when I compared them to Freesia, I still felt confident that I was a Freesia.
Azalea - The main girl in Azalea's skit was so gorgeous that I had trouble paying attention to anything else--she was that pretty! Their skit wasn't perfect but it was one of my favorites, one of the girls in it was so funny and said a line that had me laughing for MINUTES! I mentioned that line to the girl I spoke with after the skit and she said, "Yeah, that wasn't in the script but I think we'll have to put it in after this!" Their skit also featured a very funny rap and had a song that got stuck in my head quite literally for days. Though I really liked their skit, I didn't connect as well with the girls I spoke with this time around--but I think that some of it was just because I was so confident I was going to become a Freesia that I was beginning to feel like I was wasting my time at other houses.
Pansy - Pansy had a great skit that was very creative and fun, but they stuffed all the PNMs into a TINY room and I was in the front row. I was worried I was going to get kicked in the face! The first day I had felt great about Pansy, but the second day I felt like they did not want me back at all. They barely paid attention to me, and when I spoke, I noticed the girls eyeing me and evaluating my shirt and my heels and my pants and my make-up and my hair and other superficial things. I felt very judged here. I was getting the impression that Pansy's values might not be aligned with my own.
Carnation - Carnation's skit was cute and wholesome. This time around, I didn't make any connections like I had with the Food Network girl the first time. Even though I didn't feel the instant connection like I did at Freesia, every girl here was sweet and genuine. I was a little less impressed, but I knew that I had had such an amazing time the first go-around that I wanted to give Carnation the benefit of the doubt. I knew that I would go back if I could.
Iris - Iris warned the PNMs that they were putting on a new skit this year, and I'm glad they did, because it wasn't very good. In fact, I felt almost awkward watching it--should I pity laugh? It had a few funny moments but mostly, it bombed, yikes. Then, the girl I spoke with afterwards had NOTHING in common with me. I liked her alright, but we just COULD NOT make a connection! I was trying really hard to like her and I could tell she was trying to like me, but the connection was just not there. At a regular party, I would have simply smiled and said goodbye to her, but we were stuck together. When I left Iris, I figured that they would cut me, but if they didn't I knew that I would cut them so that a girl who really fit in there could get a chance to go back.
That night, I thought about how much I loved Freesia! I still liked Daisy, Daffodil, and Azalea, and I felt good about Carnation, and I hoped that the pretty girls in Gardenia would want me back even though I'd tripped. I tossed and turned that night with excitement and nerves, hoping I'd have as much luck the second time around as I did the first.