Thoughts
Thoughts more for my own reflection rather than your comprehension:
I had two conversations tonight that were reflective of my Fraternity experiences and were significantly important to me.
One of those conversations was completely unexpected from a completely unexpected source. Not that it was a bad thing; on the contrary, I found it quite interesting. I was ill-prepared for the subject, so I spoke from the heart. It’s strange, though not surprising, that cliques exist even in fraternities (which are themselves big cliques). The reality is that not everybody is close to everybody. In fact, nobody is close to everybody. I just think it’s a shame, almost like the chapter failed him, when somebody feels that they have no close friends in the chapter. It’s even more unfortunate when the cause of this disconnect is that which has brought me so much: lineages. Another cause, real though sometimes a scapegoat, is the consumption of alcohol or the lack thereof.
Why do so many conversations revolve around alcohol?
I don’t regret starting to drink; I’m glad I experienced it. More importantly, I’m glad that I have no significant desire to drink. Sure, I’ll swing back a beer on occasion during social events, but overall I simply don’t “get it.” Where’s the draw? I wish that I would have realized my low motivation to drink before building my collection.
Only human.
People who I thought might not really “care” do in fact care a great deal (this being based on a third conversation).
I’m glad I’ve become less active over the last quarter but that I’m still around to be a quasi-advisor. There comes a time when the torch must be passed.
After long search and much thought, I found a replacement person for my job. One of the techniques I used was to interview candidates without them being aware of the interviews.
I’m 22 now!
Nice night + TV + VCR + really long extension cord + roof + the Big Lebo + a bunch of Brothers = cool
Initiation for Spring Class at the Fraternity was earlier this evening. Our chapter is now six stronger, bringing our total active membership to about 100.
My sister called me today! I was happy (and quite surprised!) that she called.
Why have I been in such a reflective, pondrous mood as of late?
Some thoughts of my own:
a) Does that mean when you are prepared you don’t speak from the heart?
b) Why assume that you don’t ‘get it’ just cause you’re in the minority? Maybe everyone but you doesn’t get it.
c) I believe the idea that people really do care, despite appearances, was the premises for most of what I tried to accomplish as VP last year.
d) Reflective, pondrous mood? Consider college a major blog entry in life. I would imagine you to be the type of person who would read over it a few times to see if you got it right.
In response to a): When I prepare, I speak from my heart too. The difference is that I generally filter and refine what I say so as to be coherent, to be logical, and to have an overall sound argument. Appeals to emotion are great and usually effective, but even a good emotional appeal will not necessarily balance logical argument flaws.
What I meant in my original post is that the entire topic caught me completely off-guard, so I spoke without thinking through the entire argument first.
I often find myself caught off-guard in conversations. Occasionally, writing too. This post was an example of me writing a bunch of thoughts without me thinking though the implications completely. It was directly “from the heart.” I didn’t think everything through from a logical perspective, and you called me on my errors.
Error or not, it was the best post I ever read here.