True Brotherhood

As an alumni of the Greek community, I can't help but reflect on all the great things which Greek life has done for me & all of the benefits it has provided me in the real world. Truly, Greek life has made a lasting impact on my life in more ways than I could ever know and I'm saying this from personal experience. Some time ago, I wrote about what true brotherhood really stands for on Facebook & without further ado, I'll begin this blog with the following quote:

"Brotherhood is a two-way street; if you want its benefits you must live up to its obligations."

That's what true brotherhood to me has always been & still demands to be nothing less than this. Whether you're striving to be a man of good character (speaking for my fellow Sigs!!), or a true gentleman, being a member of a fraternity means so much more than just getting initiated into the ranks of thousands of members worldwide. It means so much more than just wearing your fraternity's Greek letters...that's right, it's so much more than both of the above.

Being a member of the Greek community means so much more than what some people think it does: It involves building stronger leadership skills, improves one's communication skills with others (not only in your respective chapters but also in all other interactions inside & outside the Greek community as well), getting involved with various organizations & projects on & off campus...In short, it's all about initiative, the willingness to step up to the plate & commit every ounce of energy into your chapters, not for your own good alone but for the chapters of whom you are a part.

However, there are those fraternity members who act, believe & say otherwise; that's one of the few things which positively gets to me. For those specific individuals, they use the chapter in "a la carte" mode: that is to say, they use it exclusively for their own benefits, not for the sake of the brotherhood as a collective whole. In other words, they're part of the chapter solely on the premises on what strikes their fancy the most about their house: intramurals, parties, hanging out at the house, etc., etc.

But true brotherhood, to have any lasting integrity whatsoever, encompasses more than just the social aspects of the fraternity. It also involves being on top of your game academically, getting involved in various positions within the chapter itself (e.g. President, Vice President, Treasurer...) among other things which I'll mention in my next blog. It's not the free ride which some have claimed it is; it never was to begin with.

That's what true brotherhood is all about & if it's a true priority in your life as it was for me, you'd support it wholeheartedly beyond the outward appearances.