Ah freshman year at good ol' Lake Erie College; I remember the time when I was worried about coming out of my shell and getting involved in things on campus. With a Starbucks in my hand, my beloved Blazer's gas tank full and a closet with a new wardrobe, I felt I was ready to start my first official year of college in style. Almost immediately when stepping inside of Holden I am swept up in a world of cardboard posters advertising all sorts of clubs and organizations that are offered on campus.
Then I see the Kappa Sigma table (and my good friend, Steve) sitting there in the heart of the chaos. Having heard all of the rumors that all fraternities are subjected to (hazing, buying friendship, etc.) I almost immediately cross it off my list as an option of something to get involved in.
Boy was I foolish. The fraternity on campus is one filled with a great group of guys who spend their time either hitting up a bowling night at Scores or volunteering their time for things such as cleaning up the highway, running a pancake breakfast for war heroes, or helping run an Easter egg hunt for the people of Painesville; and it suddenly dawns on me that fraternities are not nearly as scary as people say.
Fraternities are filled with good guys who don't believe in hazing, most want to give back to their community and are always looking for new chums to consider pledging. The best tip I could ever offer to someone who was ever on the fence about going for a brotherhood status is just (as cliché as it is) be yourself. Besides the fact that it could just be tiring pretending to be someone you're not, you certainly don't want to be out there making friends who don't like the real you. The guys in the fraternity thought I was really funny when I, in an effort to fill the silence, said "I love Greek Life, their yogurt is the best!" Cracking a good joke, talking about your goals in life, or just talking about something that interests the brothers is a really great way to get acquainted with everyone.
Above all else, you have to go in wanting to be a brother since it takes a heck of a lot of time and patience going for something as grand as a fraternity. While I cannot say what pledging is or how it goes, the guys at Kappa Sigma were all really cool about welcoming newcomers.
Needless to say I am really excited for my upcoming years in Kappa Sigma. And the guys in Kappa Sigma, as well as other fraternities all over, are always looking for someone new to call "brother."
