These men believed in everything that the founders stood for, and were passionate about their organization, and I could see the genuineness of their bond.
Thomas is a senior at San Diego State University, majoring in business administration. He lives in San Diego.
I am a fourth-year graduating senior at San Diego State University studying to earn a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration. Throughout my time at SDSU, I have had the opportunity to join many student-led organizations and brainstorm with the greatest minds on campus. Being a business major, I realized early on the importance of networking and the sense of urgency that I needed to have throughout my college career. No other organization has echoed this sentiment more than Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. was founded on Jan. 9, 1914, on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. It was founded by three courageous men, A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse and Charles I. Brown. They believed that brotherhood, scholarship and service were the three main pillars that men of business should align themselves with. They believed in being a part of the community rather than apart from the community. Hence, the moniker, “The People’s Frat” was born.
Dropping into a campus with over 30,000 students was overwhelming at first, but I was lucky to find a place I could call home. I was a Links’ Achiever in 2018 during my senior year of high school, so I had the opportunity to meet the previous class of achievers that stayed local. This was my first introduction to a few of the members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. I was surprised to find out that many San Diego Sigmas were previous Achievers like Kevin Archangel, Christian Onwuka and Julian Buchanan. They each had a hand in helping prepare our step routine for the annual MLK parade step show.
When I stepped on campus my first semester, a senior was the first person to ask if I needed help moving into my dorm. This took me aback because I wouldn’t have expected an older student to care about what I had going on in my freshman world. As the semester carried on, different members of the chapter would reach out to me to make sure that I had everything that I required and that I was comfortable. It did not matter to them that I was not a member of their organization. They saw me as one of their little brothers.
