After signing up to be one of the Greek bloggers for the 2009-10 school year, I decided to see what past bloggers have done, which is to give a basic overview of their organization and the overall events of being a recognized Greek at SUNY Oneonta. I'm going to take a different approach. Though I will still include all the things that the past bloggers have done, I'm also going to include the little things to give you as much of an accurate representation of being a member of a Greek organization as possible. After all, the name of the blog is "A Day in the Life of a Phi Psi," so I'm going to update this blog as much as I possibly can to show how Greek life affects your everyday life and what it's all really about.
So let me give you a brief background on myself:
I'm a junior (I can't believe I'm turning 20 in less than two weeks) from Queens with a double major in Music Industry and Business Economics. I play several instruments and used to play lacrosse in high school. I am currently the Vice President of Internal Services for the Student Association after serving as a Senator last year.
I joined Phi Kappa Psi in the Spring 2008 semester as part of the Legendary Lambda new member class. Along with seven class brothers who I now consider my closest friends, I learned the history and traditions of my fraternity during the six-week-long process we call the new member program.
I understand that Greek life as a whole has a stigma of being just like the movie Animal House or the show Greek, but it is honestly nothing like that. It's not all partying. It's not all making your new members dress in drag and do humiliating things. In fact, it's nothing like that at all. Being in a fraternity has brought out the best in me. I do countless hours of community service, my grades are up, and it has brought out my true leadership potential. Coming into college, I never thought I would be as involved in the campus community as I am, let alone be on the executive board for a $1 million corporation who's sole purpose is to help students (check out the Student Association). If Greek life should have a stigma at all, it should be one of leaders doing all they can to help out their community. It should be one of having the brightest students. It should be one of accepting only the BEST.
Do something that will benefit your community. Do something that will benefit you. Do something that will change your life forever. Leave your mark. Leave your legacy. Become an Oneonta Greek; it will be the best thing you've ever done.
And so I would like to leave you with one last saying. Some know it as "Seize the Day" or "Carpe Diem," but to Phi Psi's around the world, it consists of four simple words: LIVE EVER, DIE NEVER!
Fraternally,
Zachary T. Silver...
Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity
