Many of us are quick to say our Founders badge is a symbol of our Fraternity and the basic principles which it stands for. It’s almost an instinctual reaction that none of us can refute, even though we all realize it means something deeper on a much more personal level. For me, the Founders badge is a symbol of our holistic fraternal experience.

It is the joy of achieving our goals. It is the agony of showing a brother tough love. It is the hardships we face standing up for what is right. It is the support you receive after your heart is broken. It is the courage to take the more difficult path. It is the elation after you meet a brother from the other side of the country. It is the bond we all share. It is the sacrifices we all make for one another. It is the exhaustion you feel after staying up all night being there for a brother when he needs it most. It is the long hours we put in striving for greatness.  It is the realization that there is more to life than what we could ever imagine. 

The Founders badge is worn with pride because it is a comprehensive symbol of what Sigma Phi Epsilon means to us as a national Fraternity, but it is equally representative of our individual experience. It is one of the most powerful symbols I have encountered because everything that it encompasses is consistently changing my life. It will not mean precisely the same thing from one man to the next, nor should it. Before the next time you put that pin on your chest, think profoundly about what it means to you. Let it be a reminder of your experience, and wear it proudly.