I used to have problems being like the other kids at school because I was different in so many ways. I was highly overweight, barely out of the closet, and overcompensating for much of the childhood I lost.
As a result, I never got to have a social life. I had zero friends. I had no one to do anything with; I was ever invited out. Most of the time, I overthought these things. I ended up putting every conversation, action and thought under a microscope. I was constantly depressed.
However, during my senior year of high school, I became more social, and I was hoping that ball would keep rolling in college. But, I ended up having so many depressing days that I found myself in the same situation as the old me. It wasn't until I realized something about myself that I decided to change things around. I was always so busy waiting for other people to invite me to things and include me, I never thought to just take charge.
For my second semester, I decided to overload myself and lead the charge. I was already part of a singing group and Odyssey; so, I thought, why not do more?
When I looked at my university, I saw how happy the greek life on campus was. It took some imagining to think about what kind of person I would be if I joined a fraternity.
Now, I can't say I didn't have my doubts about Greek Life. I always held a stereotype about fraternities, and I think most of us do until we get involved with one. I thought they were full of drunken, hyper-privileged white kids who only wanted to party.
But, in my fraternity, that wasn't true at all.
I met the nicest people who really took me in and started to involve me. No one hazed, no one made me work for the letters, and nobody treated me differently for being me. When I was in, I was a brother.
I recently had the best week of my life because of them and I realized that it was all because I got involved and became a social butterfly. I needed to be distracted by people and to not think about my own life, and joining a fraternity really helped me not fall into my introverted pattern.
I really owe it all to a good friend of mine in my chapter who took me out and made me realize how much I loved being with people.
I'm happy to say I'm happier now then I have been in years, and look forward to becoming more and more involved with my school and fraternity.
