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Why You Should Join a Service Fraternity

When I got to college, I was excited to get involved with all kinds of campus organizations. But during my freshman year, I struggled to find my “thing.” I tried a few different clubs, and although I built a great group of new friends, I still felt as though I was missing something. I wasn’t doing anything to beef up my resume, nor was I taking full advantage of what my campus offered.

I came across Alpha Phi Omega by chance when I saw their callout information scribbled on the blackboard of my Spanish classroom. I was immediately convinced that this service organization was perfect for me. In the five semesters I’ve spent in Alpha Phi Omega, I’ve completed over 100 hours of service. Last semester I was even elected President of our chapter.

Alpha Phi Omega is a national co-ed service fraternity that was founded on boy scouting principals and fulfills three main pillars: leadership, friendship, and, above all else, service. Although a fraternity, it runs more similarly to a club; the main similarity we have with social Greek life is our letters. While we do hold membership events, our main focus is on service and volunteering in our community, both on campus and for national organizations.

In our own local community of Purdue University, and by extension they greater Lafayette area, there are dozens of organizations run by volunteers and donations. This ranges anywhere from animal shelters such as Natalie’s Second Chance, to food pantries such as Food Finders, to women’s shelters such as the YWCA—all of which Alpha Phi Omega has relationships with. Our community needs our engagement and assistance. Alpha Phi Omega provides that.

But you may need Alpha Phi Omega too. According to a study published in John Hopkins University’s Journal of College student development, “Higher levels of engagement in a variety of curricular and cocurricular activities significantly contribute to cumulative GPA and students’ perception of their overall academic experience.” All of these things are huge factors that hiring managers take into consideration. Additionally, Forbes Magazine says one of the best things you can do to boost your resume when you’re not working is to volunteer. Volunteering can help you identify your interests and build applicable career skills.

I may sound daunting, but this week alone our chapter of APO has over 20 events planned, and with 11 different categories of service, everyone can find something they enjoy and are passionate about. I know that volunteering or doing manual labor may not seem like a fun or even a “good” way to improve your day, but with such an encouraging group of people it’s easy to enjoy your time—especially because most big projects end with a membership event where we all just spend time playing games, getting food, and just hanging out together. Even during a busy and stressful exam week, I can count on an APO project to brighten my day and lighten my stress by giving back to the community.

Although one can feel good by doing good in this organization, there is so much more to APO. The second pillar, Friendship, is reflected not only in our tight knit group of brothers, but in the membership events that the chapter offers. “Mem events” are a fancy term for trying new things, going on adventures, or just spending organized time with Brothers. Psychologist and author Alex Lickerman says “Trying something new forces you to grow.” Membership events are a perfect place to learn or try something new, from group swing dancing classes to CPR training.

APO’s third and final pillar is Leadership. Something that many college students strive to pad their resumes with is leadership experience, a feat that is often harder than we realize. Studies have also shown that leadership skills are best developed through “learning by doing,” which is exactly the opportunity that one will be given through APO. I know that it can be intimidating to run for an office in any organization, but APO actually encourages everyone to hold an office at some point, and by the time a member graduates it is expected that they will have held numerous positions. Executive board members, co-chairs, and pledge trainers change every semester so there are plenty of opportunities to run. In addition to this APO holds leadership seminars to develop our leadership skills as a group and encourages going to extra lectures to see guest speakers together.

I hope you will join us, because through our organization and community service, you can gain real-world experience and practice important habits like leadership, problem-solving, and time-management. Don’t just take it from me though, numerous studies have shown that involvement in the community can be extremely beneficial to your physical and mental health, while also improving your chances to get that dream job through the development of leadership and other applicable skills.

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