Like a majority of college freshman, I was eager to be a part of Greek life. When I first started college, I had two primary goals set out for myself. The first, was to study abroad. The second, to rush a sorority. The entirety of sorority life just looked so appealing to me. From the cute clothes, making life long friends, and the sisterhood community, I knew that being a sorority girl was the right path for me to take . During the fall semester of my freshman year, I had every intention of being present during recruitment. I attended the info sessions, spoke with the different sororities on campus, and made sure I asked plenty of questions. However, when it came time to actually signing up for rush, I was convinced that being in a sorority was not where I needed to be.
Since high school, I have been motivated to pursue a career in medicine. I was more than thrilled when I came across a co-ed fraternity, known as Phi Delta Epsilon at a club fair. The primary focus of this organization was to provide guidance and support for students interested in becoming the future doctors of America. Unfortunately as a Freshman, I had to wait until the Spring to rush. When it finally came time to apply, I started to jump to conclusions, convincing myself that I was not qualified enough to be accepted. I had a decent GPA, was involved in a few clubs, volunteered at a local hospital, but I didn't think it would be enough. At this point in time, I was feeling extremely overwhelmed to the point where I almost wanted to switch my focus to nursing school.
As the Spring semester of my Sophomore year came around, I attended another club fair to seek more opportunities to get involved. Coincidentally, I came across the Phi Delta Epsilon table once again. I wasn't looking for it, and yet, there it was. Without hesitation, I decided to attend rush week. Although the rush process was nerve wracking, it really helped to push me out of my comfort zone. And as nervous as I was, I had every intention of making myself known to the other members. I attended every single one of the rush events and spoke to as many members as I possibly could. During the time following rush week and interviews, there was nothing left to do to except wait for a response. I remember constantly checking my email every 5 minutes hoping to see an email from the executive board. Finally, around midnight on Valentine's Day, as I was hanging out with some friends, I received an email that would provide another stepping stone on my path towards becoming a doctor. When the email said that I had been extended a pledge to become a full fledged member, I almost broke down into tears. I had worked hard to be accepted into the fraternity, and it actually happened.
As I became more involved as a member, I was reassured that I was on the right path. Through volunteering opportunities, and other countless resources, the fraternity allows its members to become outstanding medical school applicants through growth and maturity. It also has an amazing social atmosphere. Since we're all premeds, we all have to take the same classes, which provides a great resource for study groups, tutoring sessions, and getting old exams. And like other fraternities and sororities, we also operate on a Big/Little system. If you don't know what a Big is, they are basically just mentors for the younger members. One of the most rewarding experiences I've had as a fratter, is the interaction I've had with my big and the rest of my family. Now, within the fraternity, we are divided into different families that are attributed to a superhero theme. When I was paired with my big, I was a part of the "Dumbledore's Army" family. Despite our small size, we were a close knit family that bonded through sushi dates, game nights, and of course our love for 'Harry Potter.' In addition to having such an amazing family, my big had also been an amazing role model for me. His passion and work ethic inspired me to increase expectations for myself and strive for greatness.
Being a member of Phi Delta Epsilon has not only allowed me to professionally grow as an individual, but it has also provided me with countless opportunities to aid the Northern Nevada community and develop relationships with members that I consider my closest friends. What appealed to me the most about being in a premedical fraternity, was the sense of professionalism and the community that felt like a second family to me. Without it, I don't know where I would be in my journey at this point. Although I still get overwhelmed and concerned about my future, I am reassured by the fact that I have an entire support network of other members that are going through the exact same struggles and difficulties as me. The fact that we all have the same end goal, provides a great deal of comfort and diminishes that crushing feeling of being alone. Despite not being able to join a sorority, the social aspects are still there within a professional fraternity. Yes, we have a Big/Little system, we have formals, but most importantly we're a family working together to achieve our dreams. Do I regret not joining a sorority? Well sometimes, yes, but I don't regret rushing for Phi Delta Epsilon. In the end, I believe I made the best choice for myself.
