I remember coming to college pretty unsure about the whole Greek life thing. I had always been the type of person that was vehemently against joining a sorority, mostly because of their exclusivity and the huge monetary commitment. I didn’t have anything against sororities themselves or the girls who joined them; it just wasn’t something I ever really pictured for myself.
So, when my next door neighbor in the dorms asked me if I wanted to join Alpha Phi Omega, I immediately said no to it. No one is more thankful than me that she pushed me to do it, because--little did I know--Alpha Phi Omega isn’t a sorority, but a co-ed service fraternity, and just a short four years later, it would have helped to shape who I am entirely.
Alpha Phi Omega (APO) is a service fraternity, based on leadership, friendship, and service. We pride ourselves on the services that we as a group are able to provide to the community and those that we are able to help, all the while having a great time with fellow brothers!
It’s affordable, it’s friendly, and it’s inclusive to everyone--all the while still maintaining some of the best aspects of Greek life (bigs and littles, formals, a sense of community)! All that the organization asks in return is that you complete 20 hours of service and 15 hours of social per semester.
Now, I know what you’re thinking--service doesn’t sound very fun in theory, especially when it’s 20 hours worth, does it? Does it sound more like a chore? That’s what I thought, too, at first, but the hours add up much quicker than you would anticipate--and the events that we participate in are actually fun! We’ll do anything from being zombies at a 5k to making holiday cards for a retirement home.
Even more than the fun, though, being a part of APO makes you feel like you’re actually a part of something special...something that helps the world be a little brighter.
Don’t believe me? Listen to my brothers! I asked the other members of the fraternity to tell me why they loved APO, and here are there answers:
1. “I love being a part of APO because I’m able to make a positive impact on people’s lives and meet other people who enjoy doing the same...because I have met people who I know will be my lifelong friends.” -April K.
2. “I could not imagine my life here on campus without APO. It was through this organization that I’ve met some of my best and lifelong friends. Being a part of something so inspiring, such as giving back to the community, was not only good for those in need, but it was also good for the soul.” -Geena M.
3. “I love being a part of APO because I’m able to volunteer at super fun events that help amazing causes, and I get to do it with some of my best friends that I’ve met in college!” -Paige R.
4. “I love being a part of APO because no matter who we are, there is a touch of love between all of us.” -Jarred G.
5. “I love APO because we are a family that thrives on leadership, friendship, and service. It keeps us humble and we lose ourselves in our service!” -Shannon M.
6. “Because it gives me a community of friends that all love the same thing I do: service.” -Lauren K.
7. “I love APO because it introduced me (a lonely first year) to a group of amazing people and great friends. I also enjoy doing service in our community; it gives me a great deal of joy to help people in need!” -Missy B.
8. “I love all the different service events we do and getting to meet all my brothers!” -Alyssa T.
9. “I love the feeling of being a part of a community who all have a love for helping others.” -Jack M.
10. “I initially joined to meet new people since I just transferred, but once I learned more about it, I joined to be a part of something bigger than myself and to help as many people as I could.” -Shane D.
As you could probably gather from my brothers’ responses above, Alpha Phi Omega is an inspiring organization to be a part of, and my college career would never have been the same without it. For me, Alpha Phi Omega gave me a home away from home. I was depressed and lonely and ready to transfer schools when I ended up joining, and I’ve never looked back. Throughout the years, despite however many changes have taken place within the organization, I still love the feeling that I get when I do service to help those in need, and walking into our meeting room every week still feels like I’m walking into a room filled with family.
Interested in joining APO this semester? Think you could fall in love with it, just like the brothers? Consider coming to one of our upcoming rush events! The dates, times, and events are listed below, including our inductions date, so come check us out! I promise we don’t bite!
