The Impact of Triangle Brotherhood

Triangle brothers serving together

to help. Regularly, professional and social boundaries become more fluid and barriers are broken down as our members grow. A majority of the new member class are introverted STEM students, they are the ones you need to connect with the most. Interacting with them, taking them new places, and having new experiences are simple steps that can be taken to allow those new members to become comfortable, confident, interactive men. They can still be introverted, and many are naturally, but they have an ability to communicate and participate in a capacity they did not feel comfortable enough to do before. Brothers watch as they grow just in time for another semester's batch of new members join the brotherhood. Ultimately, the best way to make Triangle a better place is to leave something behind. It could be your actions as a role model, the creation of a new annual event, or a bridge between the executive board and members. Triangle provides a comfortable avenue to keep contributing to a group of people that you may never meet. By the time an alpha class has graduated the groundwork has been laid. Brotherhood - it is such a robust, inexplicable word. It is something you don’t truly understand until you experience it. The comfort you feel in brotherhood is the same way. A few antonyms for comfort are hardship, grief, stress, and depression. These are combated by Triangle Brotherhood, and the results are a serene state of mind. So when you think about the benefits of brotherhood, remember that it is not just a feeling, a group, or a memory, but also a state of mind you find yourself in when you are truly exposed to it. Stay serene, be grateful, and be a good brother, for just like the "good ole days," you do not realize what you have until it’s gone. s

BENEFITS OF BROTHERHOOD The Member Issue: Stories About You

How My Brothers Helped Me Grow

MATHEW LaCORTE char16

When I joined Triangle, I had no idea just what I was in for. I never saw myself as joining Greek Life, nor did I even pay attention to it. I just happened to stumble across a rush event and was intrigued. Despite all the Active members explaining to me just how beneficial this organization can be, I never would’ve imagined the impact that it has had in my life. I have made connections with brothers that will last a lifetime. I was aware that joining a fraternity could easily lead to that, and that was something that I truly hoped to gain from it. Not knowing anyone on campus made it very easy for me to justify why this would be beneficial to me. Although that was a major aspect of my experience, it was not a surprise. What I was surprised by was how much it helped me grow as a person. Prior to starting college, and through my freshman year, I was always very reserved, and not outgoing. I was nervous giving presentations in front of people, or even just speaking in groups. I didn’t know how to hold conversations with anyone other than close friends. It was always awkward, and looking back, I cringe every time I think of it. As my days in college are coming to an end, I’ve seen the impact that Triangle has made on who I am. I went from being the guy with nervous voice cracks in the middle of class presentations, to being able to confidently stand in front of top leaders in a Fortune 100 company, convincing them of my ideas. I can attribute this to nothing other than what I have gained through the fraternity. Before Triangle, I have never had the opportunity to present to groups as often as I have, and in such a comfortable environment, aside from with my brothers. I came to college hoping to learn the knowledge required to be hired at a technology company. As it turns out, it wasn’t the books that got me there. What got me there were the essential skills I learned through my brothers and working to build a stronger chapter at UNC Charlotte.

" I knew as soon as I joined the fraternity that it could have an impact on me. "

Having had the opportunity to serve as my chapter’s president for a year, it also helped to teach me a lot about leadership, and how to better understand everyone. I learned how beneficial it can be as a leader to know how to be compassionate towards everyone. Instead of being the one to simply tell people what to do or be upset when it doesn’t go as it should, I had to put in the effort to understand where everyone was coming from and sympathize with them. While this is a valuable skill that can be utilized in the workplace, it has also helped strengthen my personal relationships. I knew as soon as I joined the fraternity that it could have an impact on me. Originally, I only thought about the ability to have close relationships that you cherish. As true as that proved to be, there was more to be gained. I’ve had the opportunity to grow as a person, and I will always be thankful for that. Triangle isn’t a four-year commitment, but instead an experience that will impact you for the rest of your life. It has been an amazing journey in Triangle, and it’s something that I hope countless others will get to benefit from as well. s

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