Fraternity Life is a Foundation for your Future

Name: Luke Gill
Class of: 2009
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Major: Government
Fraternity: Delta Chi

Why did you join a fraternity?

I joined Delta Chi the first semester of my freshman year with two of my hall mates.  My chapter had just received their charter the previous semester but had struggled with recruitment so there were no sophomores, and my two hall mates and I were the only freshmen.  I saw an opportunity to join an organization that already had a strong core of older guys based around a strict no-hazing policy that allowed for a very relaxed atmosphere at all times.  I also knew that because the chapter was not well known around campus and lacking in numbers, I would be able to have a big impact on the chapter and the campus.

How did membership in a fraternity provide you with opportunities to work towards your future career/academic goals?

From the minute I met and started hanging out with the guys, I always felt comfortable and respected.  I was not treated as a freshman or a pledge, but as a fellow student and a friend.  The transition to college left me with many questions, but one of the older guys was always willing to listen.  This feeling of community motivated me to work hard in the classroom and become involved on campus so that I could help better myself and my fraternity.  Once I joined Delta Chi I represented something more than myself, and this pushed me to set goals for myself and my fraternity.

I also learned a lot from my fraternity brothers on how to reach my goals.  One of the great things about being in a fraternity for me was how open I was with so many of my brothers.  It is a very special thing to be surrounded by a group of guys that know almost everything about you and truly care for your happiness and well being.  We all worked together to ensure each others success whether it was a big exam, a job interview, or even matters of the heart.  Just knowing that I could lean on my fraternity for support at any time gave me great confidence to go out and tackle my dreams and desires.