The Power of Community
By: Alyssa Skites
Looking back at my college experience thus far, I often stop to fixate on one profound part of it: Delta Beta Tau.
I could sit here and say my life would be sad or unfulfilling had I not joined this fraternity. But the truth is, that would simply not be the case. If I had never joined DBT, I would still be okay. Life would have moved on and I would have found a different group of people with whom to connect, a divergent fragment of the world to fall deeply in love with, and new practices to follow that would enter my path in the most unexpected of ways.
My life would still be beautiful, I know this is true. But my life would be different.
I’ve learned that there is something deeply fulfilling about finding others who embrace vulnerability and want to better themselves as people and that being around them only pushes me to do the same. I’ve come to find that being comfortable by myself is liberating and empowering. I’ve accepted that meditating is not easy; in fact, it is one of the most difficult things to force yourself to do when you’ve been conditioned your entire life to hide and “escape” from your emotions. I’ve discovered that I am not a perfect leader or a perfect friend or a perfect human being. I’ve seen how self-doubt is crippling and likes to cling to my throat to tell others it’s there; however, I’ve also grown to believe in myself more than anyone else ever could. I’ve realized that, even when immersed in a room full of people who love you, you can still feel utterly alone...and I’ve learned that these feelings are vastly shared. I’ve come to truly believe that what most people want is to feel connected to something and that the best way to connect with others and yourself is to open up, listen, and accept.
I have learned that home is a feeling grown from the roots of love, that intentional positive energy can penetrate through the thickest of skins, and that the desire to better oneself is not only contagious, it is magic.
My life would be beautiful and devastating and full and empty whether or not I joined this crazy organization. But damn have y’all taught me a thing or two.
By: Alyssa Skites
