Get ready to realizing that those people that you call “OLD” will be you one day

One day you are the young one on the block, with your sponsor, big brother, pledge parents, and older members to watch over you as you progress through the chapter.  New and naive and usually ready to take instructions on how to embody iLFS, it never crosses your mind that the very people you looked to for advice and guidance will be gone.  You will have to take their place.

It’s kinda how it works, where the chapter never stays stagnate and where the people you grew familiar with, will move on with their lives and an infusion of new life, ideas and change will start their journey.  Instead of moping around and wondering if the chapter is doomed with each passing term because those you counted on are gone, it was time for you to step up to the plate and take your swings at making the chapter your own.  Because while you live those moments, time moves slowly, but once you walk across the stage and pose for pictures, you will realize that time is only relevant and the pace is dictated by how much fun you had. 

Becoming an alumnus is sorta like going through puberty: it is awkward and honestly, those changes really puts a cram on having fun as a child.  I am not saying that once you become an alumnus the years of having fun are over… it’s just different.  When you were a child, life was carefree and with fewer responsibility.  Well, when you are in college and in APHIO, it was so easy to gather 30 or more people to go play football at the park or 150 people to host a service project like D4K.  But for the alumni, we would be lucky to get 10 of our pledge brothers at one event as they are now spread out across the state and some even in different countries.  It is not as carefree and random anymore, you have to plan in advance and make sure there are no conflicts in scheduling and make it financially feasible for everyone to attend.

I am not going to end this entry to tell you something corny like “cherish these times as you are never going to get younger”, but instead I offer you these simple advice:

1. You will get older and your body will play the price if you don’t take care of it.

2. Take a lot of pictures, but don’t hide behind the camera that you forget to enjoy the moment.

3. Get outside your comfort zone and don’t just hang out with one niche and be quick to include others in your groups.

4. Realize that APHIO is great, but also getting a college degree is mighty important.

5. Don’t forget all the old people that made you who you are and don’t forget that you will become the old chap on the block, so be kind and guide the younger members.

iLFS,

- John Tu

These are some of my “OLD” people