Treasured Trinkets

What happens to the pledge pillow given to you by a sorority member that was proud of you for crossing the burning sands, or the ceramic dolls with your fraternity letters on it that may or may not quite fit the motif of your new place? I would say, about ten years after leaving college, most of your fraternity and pledge memorabilia no longer have a place hung from your bedroom wall and cluttering every flat surface you can find. Although decorative, greek paraphanilia in most cases isnt very "stylish" and often doesnt compliment most modern living decors. So one must ask, what happens to all that stuff. Does it all fill a box stuffed away in the attic in case some hot footed neophyte from your undergrad chapter shows up on your doorstep with open arms? Or do you keep in as a keepsake that you can turn to or discover one day when cleaning up? Maybe you are saving it for your children who you plan to lead down the road to Greekdom. Really I'm curious about those of us who say whatever and just toss it. How did you find the strength? Every item I own has a deeply fond memory attached to it that not only connects me to the person who gave it to me but also to the specific fraternity experience that it reminds of me. I've lost some things over the years, and given a lot away. If I new some worthy young bloods, I would have a great deal of knowledge and frat junk to drop on the, I can guarantee you that. But until then dont be surprised if you see it all on an ebay store or something. lol. No but seriously, I'm talking, clothes, dolls, pillows, pins, posters, drawings, paintings, accessories, statues, figurines, boxes, chests, plaques, picture frames, classic prints, custom para... you name it. Some have shrines to their fraternity. I've done it before, in every dorm room and every apartment I've lived in since graduating. Truthfully, I'll always make space for my frat in every aspect of my life, but I've realized that it can get outta control. You think I'm bad, you should meet my D.O.P. His shrine was so intense, you could build rituals around it. The fraternity experience is a beautiful thing regardless of how you immortalize it.

This is a poem I have never read to commit to memory however many people have expressed a fond appreciation of its motivational content. What such poems have to do with the relevancy of Greek Life in any direct aspect is beyond me considering that today the standards by which intake is granted is far different from how it was in my day. Don't let your check bounce because then quitting isn't an option... hahaha But seriously folks, commit to whatever it is your start. If you are in it, finish so regardless how it ends, you can still say the race was yours.

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Don't Quit Poem
by anonymous

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest! if you must; but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow;
You might succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup.
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit;
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.


www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkCFeNeqyHk