My 21st

It is hard sometimes when you are losing a friend in a good way. I have a friend who is moving away to another part of the country. Congratulations to him on his promotion and move to Orlando, FL. I am speaking about my fraternity brother Chris. We have gained a relationship between an older fraternal brother and a younger fraternal brother. I am of course am the older brother. I have been in our fraternity for 20 years to his seven years. I have been active and a willing participant in our fraternity since day one. I had a pledge process from the old school ways before all the changes we have in place today. I wouldn’t change a thing on how I became a member of my fraternity. I guess you are wondering why I am talking about this topic in this blog. Well let me give some informational insight.

As an older brother it is our responsibility to be the mentor on the ways and means in the fraternity. I actually should say there is proper etiquette and protocol within our fraternity. I am always looking to be the bridge builder for those who become a member after me. It is very similar to how we should be within our families as well except I am the youngest in my immediate family. As the younger members came into our fraternity there was a gap in understanding how things should work in the fraternity. Chris was still down at the school we pledged at for some years until he graduated. He then moved back home to Kansas City where I currently reside. We just happen to see each other at a get together at our home chapter which is at the school we both pledged at. We started talking and seen we lived right by each other literally. He stays across the grass opening in front of my home. I explained to him how I am willing to help him learn about our fraternity if he wanted to learn. He said he wanted to learn. Soon we started to spend time together and talking a lot about our fraternity. We have road tripped together and during these road trips I taught him a lot.

He ended up being like my young wing man. I actually have seen him grow within the fraternity. I watched him start being a bridge builder with the members who came in behind him. He has learned and has taking on that role. When he told me he was going for this promotion I had full confidence he was going to achieve his goal. Now it is time already for me to let him go and continue his journey to become the best he can be. He has so much potential in him that he can only be successful in life. I wish him the best and have the utmost respect and confidence in him on his future endeavors. I never want to nor will try to get away from him. See It Through!