Proud to Be Greek Wednesdays - June 27th, 2018

The lifelong bonds you form, the communities you serve, and the invaluable lessons you learn are all part of an unforgettable Greek organization experience. Joining a brotherhood or sisterhood is an honor and a privilege, and with it comes social awareness and responsibility. Each week we are going to be featuring an essay written by a fraternity/sorority member to highlight how Greek life has had a positive impact. Coming out of my Shell I am a Founding Father of the Kappa Delta Chapter of Delta Tau Delta and have had an integral part in building up my fraternity from the ground. I was the first and fourth Guide in charge of the rituals of the fraternity and promoting our core values in the outstanding men of my fraternity. This experience has pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me grow as a man and in many ways changed my life. In high school I was a shy and quite boy who didn’t voice my opinion or stand for my values. When I came to college I told myself I was going to change. I made it my mission to push myself into new and exciting experiences. When I learned that Delta Tau Delta was coming to campus I saw it as a fantastic way form me to again push myself to do something new and make a lasting impact. I was chosen by the original organizers from our National Chapter to be the Guide and they expressed how important the role was to the fraternity. They taught me that the ritual is a time for boys to grow into men. I tried to convey that when I began organizing events. At the beginning, I struggled to connect with the 80 some guys who I had known for only a few weeks. I felt in over my head. I was in a new state for college and far away from my home. On top of this I had new classes and this fraternal responsibility on my shoulders. I felt like I was failing. But I quickly learned through failure and constructive reflection we can grow and conquer new heights. I worked with my committee before every meeting to plan activities and ritual as best we could. During the rituals I began to feel confident, surrounded by the support of my brotherhood and committee. After each event my committee reflected on what we did well and how we can improve. There were very few “adults” around to hold our hand so we had to stand up straight and do our best again and again. This was one of the most empowering experiences of my life. In a few quarters I felt like I came out of my shell and experienced so much. I stood up in front of 80 men and lead them through activities that not only pushed me out of my comfort zone but also out of theirs. I could communicate on a deep and complex level confidently. My goals to push myself into new and exciting experience were achieved in large part because of my fraternity. I believe this is what Greek life tries to give every member; the opportunity to grow, push yourself, and be proud of the legacy you leave. I am still a member of the fraternity and on the ritual committee. I will be one of the last founding fathers as I stay for my masters in Civil Engineering. Greek life has shaped my college experience on a fundamental level and changed my life in a powerful way. I am excited to see how the Kappa Delta Chapter, which I help found, continues to grow and improve itself.