Don’t be a cat, take a risk next Halloween

Don’t be a cat, take a risk next Halloween

A college student knows 365 days in advance what to prepare for on October 31st.  The townhouse parties are set in stone and your suite is dressing up

together!  You all buy the same costume to not only look good for the pregame pictures in front of the tapestry in your common room, but also to find each

other when you get lost at the townhouses throughout the night.  The creative juices are flowing and the suite decides on the costume: cats.

Our feline friends do not look like women wearing black dresses and the infamous round cat ears.  According to ancient Egyptians, cats represent mystery, but

there is nothing left to the imagination in your little black dress.  I am not criticizing the clothing, sizes, or body types; rather I want to spark some

creativity and get the majority of Bryant business students thinking outside of the litter box.

Trust me, when time is winding down and Halloween is approaching, it is so easy to give in and put on an easy costume.  But with a year’s notice, ingenuity

is key.  Here are some different ideas to try: take your cat ears and put on a “My name is Bob” sticker and you are instantly a Bobcat!  Wear cat ears with

a blanket and pillow and you are a catnap.  Or even put on birthday decorations with your cat ears and you become a party animal!  There are endless options

to change a basic cat costume into an original masterpiece.

Other common costumes seen at the townhouses this year were Where’s Waldo, Mickey Mouse, 80’s workout, nerds, and superheroes.  These costumes are overused

and abused.  While it is financially convenient if you already have the components for the costume, you are not impressing anyone.  Many costumes can be made

out of inexpensive items and will look just as good.  I applaud any who put a spin on their costume and make it different than the norm, but creativity was

lacking on campus this year.

This rant is not just directed towards females.  That’s right.  Boys I am talking to you.  Throwing a jersey on does not make you a Basketball player and a
wholesale clubwear wholesale bodycon dresses sexy clubwear plaid shirt does not make you a cowboy.  Great conversation starters can come from inventive costumes and can really help to meet new people.

Bryant prides itself on imagination and original ideas, often seen through Global Foundations of Business or the IDEA Program.  Why don’t we use these

brainstorming sessions and original techniques outside of the classroom?   Students create companies from scratch and try to solve real world problems many

companies face, but how can the same students produce such clichés?

Not every costume was terrible, though.  Some impressive originals included Instagram, Deviled Eggs, and the rowing boat.  These costumes were done well,

sparked conversation, and were very creative.  These students clearly planned ahead of time and were well prepared for the festivities.  They used today’s

trends and the popular culture on campus to create relatable costumes!

In short, here is my advice: take a risk.  Sixty years from now, will you remember the nerd you dressed up as your sophomore year or the Share a Coke

campaign?  Taking a risk does not just apply to Halloween costumes.  In general, college is a time to try new things and make mistakes; it consists of four

years of relying on yourself, meeting new people every week, and learning life lessons.  Try joining a new club or taking a class out of your comfort zone.

Just take a risk!

But above everything else, don’t be a cat for Halloween in 2016.