I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge my last bid night as a Brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon, or as we are more commonly know, SigEp, a.k.a the fraternity that hosts all the reviews with the guys who work really hard. (Better yet, you probably know us if Jake Schozer got you through Diff-Eq or any other math class.) To say it was a bitter-sweet moment, like everything else in this virtual senior year, is an understatement.
I can still remember every detail of my first bid night. I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into when I first starting rushing. After going to only a couple of events, all I really knew about SigEp was that everyone I met was really easy to talk with and I enjoyed hanging out with them. I never thought I would receive a bid. But just a couple of days after my interview, I had three brothers track me down to the Tuesday night Stute meeting to hand me my bid. I felt genuinely wanted by someone for the first time at this school.
That’s a big part of what joining a fraternity meant to me and a lot of other people. Greek Life isn’t what you see in the movies or on TV. And prior to joining, that’s all I ever thought it was. Yes, there are parties and some of the stereotypes can be seen, but that’s just true almost anywhere people get together and hang out. Greek Life offers us all an opportunity to form unique bonds, become better people, and realize our fullest potential. I get that SigEp isn’t for everyone, as much as I would like it to be. Everyone has to find their home where they feel accepted for who they are and what they believe.
After my first bid night, I had a lot to learn about SigEp and my new brothers. Prior to getting to know everyone, I thought this was a place where I would find like-minded people who think like me. While we all shared the same values of virtue, diligence, and brotherly love, we have very different perspectives and challenge each other to see ideas in a new light. We can easily spend hours exploring deeply personal questions and philosophies. Over the years, this among other things helped me to grow as a person: intellectually, physically, socially, and spiritually. I worked to continuously develop myself alongside all my brothers. And my brothers were there for me every step of the way. They were not just the people who were there for me to have fun on the weekends, but the people who got me through the week when I was struggling. I can only hope that they would all say the same of me.
I know it may sound like it, but we don’t just study all day, workout, and talk about lofty ideas. We still like to have our fun going out, playing video games, and occasionally roasting each other. SigEp is a unique experience amongst the culture of Greek Life than is typically portrayed around campus (and not just because we have a dry house). After all, one of our most important sayings is, “This Fraternity will be different. This Fraternity is different.” We don’t compare ourselves to others, only to who we were as individuals and as a brotherhood the day before. We don’t break people down and build them up. You’re here because you’re great; we just want to see you become even better.
Hopefully, the work I did to make this fraternity a better place continues for generations to come. And I think that’s part of what makes Greek Life so great. The more you put into it, the more you get out. I found my passion, and I found what fulfills me. I found what drives me to keep going even at my lowest points. All of that is thanks to SigEp and my brothers being there for me. We celebrate everyone’s accomplishments and catch them when they fall.
Finding a home here made my college experience so much better. I love my brothers and how they drive me to be better not just for myself, but for them. I became a part of something much bigger once I realized I could make a difference here and anywhere I go.
For those of you on the fence about giving Greek Life a shot, hear me out. I didn’t join until the spring of my sophomore year and I’ve had friends join even later. And while many people ask if I wish I joined sooner, I honestly don’t know. If I joined a year sooner my experience could have been completely different, or it may have been the exact same. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t change a thing because it was the best decision I ever made. -VDBL
Senioritis is an Opinion column written by a current Stevens student in their last year of study to discuss life experiences during their final year at Stevens, and other related subject matter.
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