Born a Man, Made a Leader
On the show Heroes, I remember an episode beginning with the following, “We do not choose our destinies, and those who knew us before fate took us by the hand cannot begin to understand the depths of the changes within. They cannot fathom what we stand to lose in failure.” I remember this quote because I had heard it right after joining Delta Epsilon Psi’s Xi Chapter at Drexel University and I could not help but smile as I realized how my entire perspective on life had changed by joining this great fraternity. Through the impressive amounts of community service that we do and the level of importance we place on our education, as well as our “work hard, play hard” mentality, Delta Epsilon Psi has made me into a confident man who can flourish in any environment, despite the hardest of obstacles. One of the most drastic changes that I have experienced after becoming a brother is my ability to take on ten times the amount of work that I have ever juggled before, and yet have twice the amount of free time than I had prior to joining the fraternity. At Xi, I have had the privilege of taking on multiple positions within the fraternity, including Academic Chair and Service Chair, as well as being a part of the Executive Board. Further, I am working a part-time job and am enrolled in school full-time. Even more, I am a part of other organizations on campus such as Drexel EMS. While this would have seemed like more than I can handle a year ago, after becoming a brother, words like impossible ceased to exist. I am not only taking an active role in all of the aforementioned organizations / institutions, but I am succeeding all the same. As Depsi has helped me manage my time much more adequately, I am able to do more things that I care about doing, and yet still have time to relax and watch a movie with friends. Further, DEPsi has taught me the very important idea that “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” I recognize now that prior to joining Delta Epsilon Psi, I was afraid of trying new things or taking on large/important responsibilities because of a fear of failure. Now, however, whenever I have an idea, no matter how little or large, I act on it. This has allowed me to be more confident in everything I do, whether it is answering a question on an exam or creating a fundraiser to help raise money for local communities after a disaster. Furthermore, more than just being unafraid to take advantage of opportunities, I have found myself giving everything I do 100% of myself. I find that nowadays, I don’t do anything half-heartedly. This comes from the idea that while success is not going to accompany every venture, failure should never be an outcome that you expect or settle for. This is not just applied to doing work within the fraternity organizing events, but rather a principle that I find myself applying to all aspects of my life, ranging from school to relationships to my job. If you were to see me walking down the street, at first glance, I would appear to be the same man that I was before I joined the fraternity. At a second look, however, you would start to see slight differences that are indications of a fundamental change in my view towards life. You would see me standing with a straight posture, my head up with my eyes staring forward, and my walk would be one of a man on a mission. Whether it is early Monday morning or late Saturday night, I always present myself as the leader that Depsi has made me into. Through my ability and desire to take on more responsibilities, my newly developed will to act, despite the fear of failure, and the willingness to give everything I do 100% of myself, Depsi has made me into a man that will succeed in whatever I pursue in life. I know that I would not be man that I am today if it was not for Chirag Patel, Krish Brahmbhatt, and all of the other men that inspired me to aspire to bring my dreams to fruition. As such, my name is Vikas Bhatt, and I am a proud brother of Delta Epsilon Psi. --
Vikas Bhatt
Xi Chapter
