A fraternity, according to Google, is “a group of people sharing a common profession or interests.” How then, can people say you pay for friends in a fraternity? I have heard this statement so many times throughout my two years in college. Yet, the definition, clearly states it is a group of people sharing an interest. That is exactly what I believe a fraternity is.

As a member of Pi Lambda Phi at the University of Florida, I could not be more ecstatic that I decided to rush and pledge a place that opened my mind to the outside world. Despite all the news, recently, about the wrongs Greek life has committed on multiple campuses, not every Greek organization is like that. People think Greek life is all about hazing and parties, but there is so much more to it than that. In my fraternity, we are founded on the principle of the elimination of prejudice. Granted, at first that just sounds like a combination of words, but the meaning behind it is much more powerful. We were the first non-sectarian fraternity, so our brotherhood is incredibly diverse. This has defeated the stigma I had in my head for a fraternity when I first joined. 

Looking back, as a college freshman all I wanted was a new start. In high school I was an IB student, who really did not seem to fit in. I had been bullied and put down, so I was truly just looking out for myself. Thus, I knew I had to rush. Coming to college with a strong Jewish identity really pushed me to rush a Jewish fraternity on campus. When that didn’t work out, I was devastated. All I had dreamt of was this Jewish fraternity, yet here I am in PiLam. That may sound like an upset demeanor, but I have never made a better choice in my life.

Pi Lambda Phi was a fraternity of a group of guys, looking for change. I became confident in myself, and grew into my own skin. It was as if the sun had finally risen in my world, and I had finally seen the light. Now, as a sophomore, I put my heart and soul into this place, to watch it blossom into something extraordinary.

Never judge a book by its cover. Not every fraternity is alike, and you cannot judge them based on a cookie cutter model. We are each different; we are each unique; and we all make an impact. I am proud to be a part of the Greek community, and a brother at Pi Lambda Phi. Never doubt your journey, just buckle up for the ride. I did, and I cannot wait to see how much more I can learn from the place I love. A fraternity is a commitment for life. I am in it for the long haul: not four years, but a lifetime.