Balancing Fraternity/Sorority with your other obligations

[ReyNYCPR]

Not sure if a similar thread like this has been posted here before, but I was curious as to know how all you juggle fraternity/sorority with school, wrk. etc.

After I was elected President in May, it started to hit me in terms of all the work that is involved as well as things I do outside the Frat. I will be working 30+hrs weekly, going to school full time, also a Cheerleader (yea I know.. a frat guy a cheerleader.. don't hear that too often) with practices 4 times a week, (not including games and competitions), then add 2 weekly frat meetings, rush parties, social events, community services, fund raisers, school wrk, girlfriend, family, and oh yea.. some "me" time. But believe it or not I'm not too worried about it. For some reason, I always manage to make time to do everything. Although it may sound like I'm complaining, I'm actually happy to be doing so much and being active. In the end I feel like I'm accomplishing things.

I just wanted to know if any of you carry the same weight on your shoulders, and if so, how do you balance?

[Kevin]

I'd be concerned that I'd be inneffective in some area.

We had a Pres a few years back who was also serving as the President of two other organizations at the same time. He thought he could do it. He found out that being the top guy is tough and it's a 24/7 job sometimes. Especially with a fraternity. Your being president should be #1 over all else (except maybe grades) -- that's what you signed on for. If you're not willing to prioritize like that, you shouldn't have run for that job.

[adpiucf]

What a great thread!!!

When I was in school, it was really easy to get carried away. There is SO much to do-- that is, so many opportunities for fun, and then there's-- oh yeah-- SCHOOL. The reason I'm here

I found what worked best for me was to carry a dayplanner that broke out each month. I'd take colored pens and in RED I would write my school obligations and mandatory sorority obligations. I'd also put my work schedule in RED. RED letter items also included my campus involvement mandatories (I was a school newspaper editor and on the PR committee for the Campus Activities Board.)

The fun stuff-- socials, Panellenic meetings (where you could sit and watch and mingle with your Greek friends), watching intramurals, campus events, etc., I'd pencil in or use a lighter color.

I also committed myself to make sure that my "Red Letter" tasks were caught up before I could commit to anything else. It worked out really well.

Another method that I use now that I'm a working "grownup" is that at the end of my day, I make a to-do list for the following day. The next morning, I take out that list and I assign it a "letter grade"-- "A's" are top priorities, "B"s are important, but can wait, "C" s are the things that are always there (phones, email, etc..), and "D"s are small things that can pushed to the next day if I have to. It's a huge sense of accomplishment to go through the list. At the end of the day, some things might carry over, or I may finish everything. Depends on the day!

Set aside time for fun, but remember, you are in college to earn a degree! You have to summon the willpower to say "no" sometimes-- you don't have to be in 9 clubs and 5 honors classes, hold 3 parttime jobs and be the VP of Social in your GLO. Remember, "personal time" is also a "Red Letter" priority! Stick to a few things-- but remember that school and family come first. And that as a member of a GLO, you've got a weekly meeting and usually a semesterly service requirement.

So to summarize... stay organized by WRITING IT DOWN!

[Tom Earp]

What ktsnake said!

As the Founder of the Local, I spent a lot of time the first year, oh only year as a local.

But I also knew that I had to have grades. That was the main thing in college.

But, the local was first in my heart.

Did I get a Degree, yes, but did I learn more from what I did as a member of a Greek Organizatin, YES!

A degree will get you up the first step of getting into the real world. But learning from being in a Greek Organization from being an Officer or just the interaction is so much more important. That is what recruiters are looking for.

A 4.0 is great, but are you a toad when it comes to interaction of your new peers?

That is What Greek Life can help you do, not be a toad.

The world is not flat, it is well rounded, just like Companies what their new hires to be!

You have to just say hey, I have to have a little Me time. The door is not availabe from so and so time to when ever, leave me alone unless it is a crisis! Well, maybe even then, there are other Officers who should be able to cover things. Make that known.

Just go for it and Bestest of Luck!

[KSUViolet06]

I'm a member of The Kappa Phi Club & Tri-Sigma. I strongly recommend keeping a VERY DETAILED PLANNER! I have a full weeks worth of rush workshops not to mention chapter for both Kappa Phi AND Sigma. If I didn't have a planner, I couldn't live.

And ALWAYS remember, SCHOOL COMES FIRST!!! All else is secondary!!! Which means DO NOT SKIP CLASS for a greek event! I HAVE left early for some important things, but I have never skipped, I think it's a good rule of thumb to go by.

[emleepc]

I feel your pain!! When I was in school, I was taking a full course load, had 2 jobs at some points, director of an ensemble for another organization, sorority officer, member of about 3 or 4 other org's, advisor to a freshman org, sang in a community choir......the list goes on and on. You learn quickly to either say no, or budget your time wisely.
co-sign on the dayplanner!!!! Mine kept me sane alot of times. Make sure you always know what you HAVE to do, and WHEN......don't overbook yourself or you will be miserable.

*Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it, or delegate if you can.*

This is probably one of the hardest things to learn, but totally worth it.

[aoiikristi]

When I was school, I was a music major--all of you other music majors can appreciate what a huge time commitment that in itself requires. Most music majors don't bother with a GLO because they simply don't have the time.
I made it work, along with a couple of other organizations, and also got into Order of Omega and Mortarboard along the way.

Now that it's been 9 years since I graduated, things haven't changed much.
I run a private lesson studio. I teach college part-time. I direct the adult contemporary and the youth choir at my church. I free-lance as a musician in the area. I am the president of the Home and School organization at my son's school. I am an international volunteer for AOII. And, I just agreed to be faculty adviser for another NPC organization that is colonizing on the campus where I teach.

Did I mention that I'm pregnant with my third child?

The most important thing I learned in college was time management. Dayplanners are important. It's also important to set aside time for just "checking up" on things every day. I think everyone has to find what works for them, but the bottom line is that you make time for things that are important to you.

[ReyNYCPR]

My fraternity is #1 in my heart, and it is my #1 priority. I'm in my 3rd year of being in this fraternity. I've seen all the work the previous 2 presidents did. I saw the tears, and I saw the anger, I saw it all. When I decided to run for President, I did it knowing how hard and time consuming it would be. I ran for President because I wanted to be an excellent leader. I feel that I can take my Fraternity in directions that would be beneficial to all, BUT, because I am President, it doesn't mean that I must give up everything else that I'm doing. I will be involved in my fraternity 110%, and give my ultimate devotion and dedication into all other areas that I'm involved in. Like I said, yes I have a lot on my plate, and I have juggled a lot in the past few years, but I do feel that it will work out.

And not to reveal to much, lets just say that if I wouldn't have run for President, there wouldn't have been to many guys jumping in line to run for it as well, (not even 2 other guys), if you get what I mean. But that isn't the reason why I ran. I ran because I wanted to, and because I know I could do a damn good job... I'm just going to need help from my brothers... Its one thing to be President, but you can't do it alone, you need the help from your fellow members.

The purposes of this was not cast doubt on myself or make others to cast doubt on me as to whether or not I am able to do the job, its more too see who else is juggling a full plate like I am.

But I do agree that time management is key...

[Kevin]

But it is a lonely job. That's just the way it is. You are primo, #1, the head honcho. The buck stops there, know what I mean?

I look at what you are saying and I am VERY familiar with it. I've heard it many times. Several months later, I've heard something different out of the person in that office. Just remember, there are only 24 hours in a day.

I'm not guaranteeing you will fail with the load you're taking on. I just think it might be wise to reevaluate some of your activities and obligations if you want to do the best job you can do. Of course, I'm not 100% familiar with your situation and support either. I think you'll do a good job, but to be 100% honest, it'll be tough with that load to do a "great" job.

[Tom Earp]

Good for you!

Egos many times prevail, but reasoning is the key.

You seem to have a sharp perspective of what it takes and all I can say, You are on the right track!

May Your Chapter Grow under your leadership!

[ReyNYCPR]

I know exactly what you mean. Its easy to talk the talk, but walking the walking is 10 times harder. The president before me didn't realize how hard it would be, and by the first meeting it was a reality check. Am I scared?? Hell yea!!! Who wouldn't be! The title alone is enough pressure in its self. Your not just some brother that sits quiet in the corner during the meetings, you are the brother that sits at the head of the table telling your fellow brothers things that may or may not want to here. Past 2 years I have been involved in my frat, holding numerous positions and so on. Now was the time I felt to make that move. Yes I will also be involved in many other things... and most likely I will have to cut back on some of my activities or at least manage them differently but I do feel that it is something that is possible. And like I have always said before, when I held top positions, all I could ever guarantee my brothers is that I will do my ultimate best. And to them and to myself, they elected me for a reason..

I do have to say that I sometimes feel that my frat isn't your ordinary frat to say the least. We work things out a little different than others, but in the end it works out. Our frat is only 3 years old at our school, and now is when I feel we are starting to get things rolling. We may not have the large number of guys that some of the other chapters have but the fact that we aren't that big is the reason why I feel that I will have help from my fellow brothers. For us, working more together in terms of helping various areas that may seem voided works for us. Now as we grow more and more in membership, the way we run certain positions may change....
Thanks for all the good feedback.... you definitely have me thinking.. Keep it comin

btw, thanks Tom

[Optimist Prime]

Here is my opinion. If you are in University or attend a college, you should be greek. Greek orginizations are like every other orginization combined, only with mutually selective and exclusive membership. For instance, you learn parlimentary procedure in chapter meetings, so that takes the place of the SGA. You can always find brothers/sisters to watch movies with, so no need for the movie club. Of course you can join other orgs. and clubs, but as far as resume type stuff is concerned greek life covers everything. We do philanthropy, fund raisers, etc plus everyone is at least a committe chair at some point or in charge of something. So if you have a job and are Greek you don't need to do anything else. If you don't have a job and are Greek, then just be as active as you can in your major.

[emleepc]

ReyNYCPR----i sent you a PM

[AGDee]

It will be good practice for when you are a parent!

[IvySpice]

So if you have a job and are Greek you don't need to do anything else.

I realize that you're only talking from a resume perspective, but I don't think I agree with you even from that perspective exclusively. This is one of those things that varies a lot from region to region and field to field...I can tell you that if you were applying to Yale Law School, and all you did in college was a part-time job and an NPC sorority, that would be considered almost a blank resume, even if you were president of the sorority and philanthropy chair and all of that. It would NOT be considered even on the same plane as being president of the student government, or College Republicans, or Habitat for Humanity, all of which might help you get in. (NPHC organizations are viewed somewhat differently.)

Now, that may simply be a reflection of bias on the part of the admissions officers at graduate schools in the Northeast, rather than of any truth about the depth of the experience you've had. But if you're trying to build your resume to impress that particular group of people, Greek life alone won't do.