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Alumni ARTICLES
Desire Alone Is Insufficient by Kadeem Sabari Local Alumni Association Director - ΚΚΨ Alumni Association
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olunteer service is an integral part to the advancement of Kappa Kappa Psi. New committees are being formed and more opportunities are being created for new Brothers and voices to serve and be heard. As more opportunities arise, it is important to ask yourself two questions before you commit to serve.
Question 1: Are you available to give one hundred percent?
With any organization, there are going to be people whose only desire is to climb the hierarchical ladder. It’s an unfortunate reality, but it is one to be aware of. It is safe to assume that most have similar feelings about people who do this because the process usually involves stepping on the backs of people who are doing honest work to put out a decent product. Do not be one of these people.
10 - Kappa Kappa Psi & Tau Beta Sigma
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Question 2: Do you care about what you are volunteering for?
As initially mentioned, volunteer service is an integral part of what makes Kappa Kappa Psi operate. It is what keeps us moving forward. The desire to serve is great, but desire alone is insufficient. I urge people to get involved and serve, but remember to ask yourself those two questions: Are you available to give one hundred percent? Do you care about what you are volunteering for?
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This question may seem elementary; however, it is crucial to the betterment of the fraternity and your personal well-being. As Brothers, we have a deep love for the Fraternity and want to see it grow, but it cannot come at the cost of adding unnecessary stress to your life. The idea of joining committees and running for leadership may seem enticing but do not forget to ask about the time commitment attached to whatever committee/position you are interested in. Committees involve regular meetings outside of your everyday responsibilities and some may involve planning and executing events or workshops. The committee needs everyone to pull their weight to successfully achieve their goals, but when people commit to serve and then disappear when it is time to work it adds unfair burden to the others involved. It is only fair that everyone should be expected to do what they signed up for. Running for a leadership position requires an even higher time commitment and more responsibilities. You may have to advise/chair a committee, you may have to put on numerous workshops, and you may even be required to do extensive traveling. These are all in addition to your everyday responsibilities as mentioned earlier. I urge you to examine your everyday schedule and ask necessary questions regarding the time commitments needed to be successful at whatever you are interested in.
One way to avoid being this type of person is to care about what it is you are volunteering for. If you have a true interest in what you are committing to, you will be more willing and likely to do an honest day’s work because you know that you are helping to make the fraternity better. You will be more willing to have longer meetings to examine the details of a program before it gets published because you want to ensure that the product being put out to the Brotherhood is one that is truly going to enact change and not keep the status quo. People notice when someone is really invested in their work and when others are selling false dreams. If you do not care about the cause you are volunteering for and are only doing so to add something to your fraternal resume for future election plans then you are doing everyone a disservice, including yourself.
