[opaldragon]

I know that you asked for veterans to respond to this and I'm still a collegiate, but I figure I can share a little insight.
For a time, I seriously considered giving up my badge and membership. Things were going rough in the chapter and I didn't think that the stress it was causing me was worth it. There were a few reasons I didn't. One, I really respected one of the incoming exec-board members and I truly thought she could make a difference. To date, she really has. She helped me to stick around, and I think I might've done the same for her because I truly did and still do believe in her capabilities. Two, I knew that if I left, things wouldn't change in the way I wanted them to. If I left, things would remain the same and I didn't want to be on the outskirts of the chapter watching it stay stagnant. I needed to be there to make that change occur. Not to say that I'm some sort of miracle worker but I believe so long as you put a serious effort into something, you can change it. Three, I strongly believed in the vows I took when I was initiated, when I went through that ritual. Those words, those core values, mean a hell of a lot more to me than the petty crap that goes on between 18yr olds. Along with that, I believe in keeping your word. When I joined, I was fully aware that I had given my word to this organization, to those core values, to be a member and do all that I could as a member to help the organization prosper. And I do not go back on my word.
So there's a little bit from a collegiate who almost left but didn't.