My Little Brothers

There is no word in Gujarati for cousins. I was always brought up that all my cousins were my brothers and sisters. Even some family friends I regard just as much as brothers and sisters.

I never thought my family could grow even bigger. That is until I joined Phi Psi. It was definitely one of the best decisions of my life, and my family grew 40+ in a moment. (Not that that really impacts the number of my family since I am Indian lol).

My family before Phi Psi taught me my potential. They taught me who I can be, my skills, and my path in life. My Phi Psi family taught me my worth. They helped me fully realize and understand the aforementioned things.

Through my journey in Phi Psi I have come across many people, many relationships. The ones that have meant the most to me, have been my relationships with my Little Brothers. In Phi Psi, we have Big Brothers who are mentors to their Little Brothers. The relationship is definitely by no means one sided. The Little Brother in turn also helps the Big Brother in so many ways as well.

I was never given a Little in actuality. In some ways you could say, my lineage ended with me. I , however, believe that my lineage is more like the Hapsburg family who married the shit out of everyone and spread it that way lol. But in all seriousness I wanted to recognize and honor those who have impacted me as being a Little to me, and in return helped my grow and become the person I am today. They do not know and probably will never know how much they have impacted me, but I wanted to honor them in this blog.

I know nearly all of these people have Bigs of their own, but this is not an insult to any of them that they did not do an adequate job or anything. You can have this relationship with more than one person.

Brady: Definitely the person that has challenged me more than anyone. It was a goal of mine to help him get set up in college, but in return he helped me get set up on my path. He helped me realize what I believe my reason in life is through my interactions with him. He also helped me understand my sense of duty more than anyone which I expressed in a previous post. He is by no means the most compassionate person you will ever meet ( I think that is an under-statement) , but he sense of loyalty is unparalled. I believe we share similar notions of loyalty and dedication. He is and always will be Little...though he is more Big than he will ever know.

Ronnie: What to say about a person that has become a role model for me myself. Ronnie never gives up, no matter the odds. Even when people take him for granted and in ways abuse the relationship, Ronnie does not move an inch. Putting someone else's happiness first, thinking of the Greater Good, these are all things Ronnie has taught me. I can honestly say he is one of the most impressive people I have ever met. He has countless people that emulate him, and he never lets any of them down.

Nick Estrada: My Little Mexican :-). Haha, definitely a great guy. I believe we have talked about literally everything in the world and come to agreement on 95% of everything. He has helped me come out of my shell. I used to hate confrontation, but he has helped me become more opinionated and handle things in a very mature manner. Like Brady, he is not the nicest person ;-), but he is always there for me. I know he would drop anything to be there for me, and I know I can count on him time and time again. I will always cherish all our talks :-).

Joe: Joe is a drug-dealing stuck up prick, and all he thinks about is the next girl he is going to bang. Boy was I wrong lol, well except for the prick part ;-). Joe does speak his mind, but he believes in the Greater Good. He always puts the Fraternity above himself. He is not afraid to call anyone out, not because he does believes he has no room for improvement but because he expects the best from everyone because that is all he knows how to give. I have learned to expect the best of myself through him. He has impacted me greatly, especially since graduating, and I hope he knows how much our relationship means to me.

Sean: I still remember the first time I met Sean, and he ran out of Crackers without paying his bill :-). Sean has definitely been another constant in my life. We often grow out of touch, but I know we can always jump right back to where we left off. Sean was actually the first "Little" of mine I guess you could say. I have seen his full transformation, and I am glad he believes in himself, for that is exactly what gift he gave to me. I am so happy for him and love him to death.

Spencer: Spencer is a very quiet guy when you first meet him. Even after you meet him, he can be very reserved. He has a great deal of heart though. Spencer can be there and be one of the most dedicated people without saying one word. There is value in learning when to be the leader in the front, and when to lead by example. I am glad that we have been able to get to know each other better. I will never forget those times in my apartment...just the five of us...definitely one of the best times of my college life.

Derek: D-go! Though he is older than me, I definitely view him as a Little Brother. Derek understands the meaning of brotherhood. He may not be an officer or will never be, but he is steadfast. He understands the values of brotherhood and will always be a brother to anyone who reaches out to him. I know Derek will always be in my life in some way. He was there for me through some of my hardest times, even when some of my closest friends were not.

Ryan: If there is one person I know I can call at anytime. If there is one person that will listen to me no matter. If there is one person that will accept me for who I am. It is Sexton. His understanding is unparalled. Sexton has been my support. He has been a crutch to me. He sheds light on my life and gives me reason to keep going on. His story always inspires me. I can only hope to follow in his footsteps of perserverance.

Nick M.: McGee is someone that I am sad I did not get a chance to get to know better. He really is a great guy that knows what it takes to succeed. He believes in me just as much as I believe in myself. He gives me hope and encouragement. I worry about Phi Psi from time to time, but I really beleive it is in good hands, especially with McGee there.

Evan: My VERY Little brother. Evan has definitely grown up quite a bit. I think he has found his niche and finally showing his true colors. I think Evan can truly move mountains as long as he puts his mind to it. Evan can always make me smile. Sometimes when I was down, I used to go up to his room just so I can talk to him and make me smile.

Tyler R.: Like McGee, Tyler believes in me. In a time when my self-esteem was very low, he helped me to expand upon it and believe in myself. I believe I am capable of anything and everything. I believe I am capable of anything and everything because of Tyler Reese. He worries a lot about the future sometimes, but I believe in him and know he has what it takes.

Tyler Z.: My newest Little. I think he is another person who is the future of Phi Psi. I think he is finally getting settled in, and I believe he will be President one day. He has the drive, the motivation, the determination, the values, the sight that Phi Psi will need. I am sad that I will not be able to see it, but I know he will take Phi Psi to the next level. He is the embodiment of what it takes to be a brother.

Though my colors Blue and Silver will not be passed down. I know they will live on. They have changed my life, they have made me whole, they have given me a new life.