Landslide, by The Dixie Chicks, has been one of my favorite songs since I was a little girl. I used to dance around the kitchen with my mom and listen to that song on repeat. When I joined AKPsi, Landslide became associated with an entirely new memory—the brother retreat.
I rushed AKPsi during the fall of my sophomore year, and by the following spring, it was hard to remember what my college experience had been like before joining. In the span of a few months, I formed relationships with people who not only became some of my closest friends, but who also motivated me to excel academically and professionally. I finally felt like I was finally part of a close-knit community at Tulane, which was both an amazing and refreshing feeling.
When I came back from winter break, I was so excited to be a fully initiated brother. While I was already friends with many brothers, I knew that actively being a part of the fraternity would take my experience to another level. One of the most exciting brotherhood events each semester is the brother retreat. It’s typically overnight, in a large enough space to fit all of the attending brothers. I had heard that it was super fun and a great bonding experience, but I had no idea just how much I would enjoy the entire retreat.
Within the first hour of retreat, I had already spoken to several brothers whom I had not had the pleasure of meeting previously. Throughout the night, we played games and got to know each other better, and I probably laughed harder that night than I had in a long time. My favorite part of the night, however, was towards the end. Almost all of the brothers were gathered around a campfire, listening to music, making s’mores, and playing guitar. I was sitting next to some of my closest friends, and I felt truly content. Then, Landslide started playing, and everyone began to sing along. It felt like a nostalgic memory and a new one all at once. As cheesy as it sounds, I looked at everyone around me, and it felt like I had become a part of a new, huge family. Somehow, AKPsi took what was already one of my favorite songs and made me love it even more. The brother retreat allowed me to bond deeply with people who I am proud to call close friends, and it has become one of my favorite college memories thus far.
By Ella Nyquist
