Coming to the University of Cincinnati I had no intentions of joining a fraternity. From the stereotypes to the money, I had no interest. I ventured from Northeastern Indiana to Southwestern Ohio, a whopping three and a half hours away from home. The University of Cincinnati became this huge thing to me for three weeks. I was lost and trying to find my place and where I fit in at this university.
The first week I was living in Cincinnati, I was invited over to a fraternity house for a cookout. My roommate at the time and I decided we should go because it’s free food and we don’t know anyone. So we went over to hang out with some random frat guys. My awkward self was a little standoffish and I only talked to the people that talked to me first. I had never been in this environment before and I had no idea how to feel about it. It was a big house, with many new faces. After this first cookout, we were asked to come by the next day and hang out with them as we all watched something (I think it was football, but I don’t really remember).
When we came back the next day, I immediately felt more comfortable with some of the guys. They weren’t all strangers anymore and all my stereotypes had subconsciously melted away. Even after visit number two, I wasn’t looking at this house as a frat house, I was looking at it as a place to hang out at, a place were I saw friendships starting, a place that I would like to call home one day.
Did I really think all this at the moment? No. But, weeks after I joined Delta Tau Delta and I looked back on that first week, I could see my confused-self walking through the experience I just wrote about.
It is now a year and a half later and I couldn’t imagine my life without the men of Delta Tau Delta. We’ve been through a lot the last year and a half. They were the people that were there for me when I considered leaving UC and moving home. They were the people there for me when I failed a class. They are the ones constantly challenging me to be a better person, a better Drew. In the areas of academics, community service, philanthropy and human interaction, they have helped me grow and have kept me accountable.
Through Delt, I have been motivated to try my hardest in school, step out of my comfort zone socially, help out with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (JDRF), get involved on campus and have strong, meaningful friendships with guys at UC. My first and second semester in Delt, I was involved with the social committee, and we planned socials and events with other Greek life organizations on campus. My third semester in Delt, I was nominated and inducted on to our executive board as corresponding secretary, were I was in charge of social media, attendance at events, and helping with the FAAR. In my fourth semester in Delt, I am the philanthropy chair, were I am in charge of planning and running all philanthropy events and corresponding with JDRF, as well as other Greek Organizations.
Being a part of Delt, I was introduced to Katone Roberts and Jeremy Morall. The two of them were Student Orientation Leaders (SOLs), Katone in 2013 and Jeremy in 2014. Befriending them in my first semester led to me consider filling out a SOL application at the end of January 2015. If it weren’t for them and a few others, I wouldn’t have had the best summer of my life. Last week I wrote about my SOL experience, so if anyone is curious, you can look that article up. Through the networking with these guys, I saw the importance of being involved and contributing to UC’s campus. Whether that is being a SOL, being a ROAR tour guide, being on Student Government, or being in a student organization, Delts helped me realize I have things to offer this university.
Meeting the men in Delt allowed for all the stereotypes of fraternities guys to disappear. Within a few days of meeting these guys, I realized they were different. It was a melting pot of diversity, different backgrounds, personalities, majors, and strengths. Each member brought something new to the table and offered a different perspective, I knew I wanted to be a part of something like that. I didn’t want to join a frat, I wanted to join an organization full of different types of people. An organization that challenged me, allowed me to have fun, kept me accountable and gave me a sense of home. Delta Tau Delta gave me all of that and more.
#RushDelt
