During the 2002-2003 academic year, I met with two consultants
who were interested in reestablishing a once- prominent campus
fraternity. The house had a 150-year history, but was no longer
established on campus. The consultants told me and other potential
brothers who were interviewed and selected that we could be the
founding fathers of Delta Tau Delta. We would set the tone for what
our new organization would explore, represent and accomplish. I
realized the offer from the consultants would need to be carefully
evaluated.
After some thought, I realized the opportunity to leave a legacy
that would outlive my physical presence at the university was
probably too good to pass up. I was promised several things
throughout these interviews ““ the creation of a strong
brotherhood, a sense of responsibility and integrity, good times
and friendships that would be anything but temporary.
The commitment was going to be large, so it was not without some
hesitation that I decided to pledge my time, effort and energy to
the organization. But I’m glad I did. Immediately I was
involved in leadership activities such as the internal organizing
of the fraternity and the variety of functions within the larger
Greek community. With a newfound sense of belonging and purpose, I
felt ready to better UCLA and the community around me. I learned
about the many Greek philanthropic and community service
opportunities.
Although the doors of the Greek community were wide open to me,
my individual fraternity’s framework remained incomplete. As
a vice president, I was put in the driver’s seat, determining
where the organization would be going. We all worked together to
push the fraternity in the right direction, and I felt like part of
an important group. The fraternity presented me with various
leadership opportunities and I learned to be a more assertive and
verbal person with the people around me. My confidence developed
overall, and I have carried these skills to other aspects of my
life such as academics, job interviews and my social life. I have
become best friends with many of the members, I’ve had a
group to associate with and my self-esteem has been invaluably
enhanced.
The treasures I gained from my fraternity experience, however,
did not come easily. I needed to develop leadership and
communication skills, learn how to prioritize and manage my time,
and figure out how to deal with people on both individual and group
levels. This all took a lot of time and effort, but the rewards
reaped cannot be overstated.
The overall outcome of my venture into Greek life is one I will
never forget. I look forward to the surprises, celebrations and
challenges to arise next year among my brothers and within the
larger Greek community. The happy times and the ties to my brothers
are among the most outstanding achievements of my life. I am proud
to be a member of the Greek community. Pledging the fraternity was
by no means “easy,” but neither are the things you
treasure most in life ““ you must work hard to achieve the
rewards you seek.