I came to college not knowing exactly who I was, or what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to be involved in something beyond just classes, but I wasn’t sure what would be the best fit for me.

At first, joining a fraternity didn’t cross my mind, largely because of the negative stereotypes that surround fraternities. I figured I didn’t have to “buy my friends.”

But after being at Kent State and in school for the first two weeks, I started to become a little bored. I am a person who has many interests and wanted to explore my options.

I was first introduced to fraternity life in a social setting. I responded to the social aspect of fraternities instantly, but I was still very reluctant to join one. The more I hung out with guys in the fraternity, the more I learned about fraternity life.

Once I learned that fraternities were not strictly party clubs, my interest in them began to grow. Being social is one of my interests, but I also value other things such as athletics, academics, helping people, building my resume for after college and creating strong relationships with people. Once I found out that fraternities cover all of those areas and more, I became excited about joining one.

The number one reason I like my fraternity, and fraternities in general, is because they deal directly with many people’s interests. It really doesn’t matter exactly what someone is interested in because fraternities are involved in many different things.

My advice to the incoming freshmen, and other Kent students in general, is to give the thought of joining a fraternity a chance.

Joining my fraternity has made me a leader and the person I am today. Just like many organizations, a fraternity might not be the right fit for you, but after experiencing what they have to offer, it might make you at least look at them in a different way.

Matthew Graves is a senior communications major and guest columnist for the Summer Kent Stater. Contact him at [email protected].