Name: Damian Valdes

Hometown: The Woodlands, TX
 
Major:  Business Administration/Hispanic Studies
 
Career Aspiration: Inner City Teacher
 
Greek Chapter: Sigma Phi Epsilon
 
Why did you decide to become Greek? 

I became active in various activities freshman year and met many influential people on campus.  The more involved people I met, the more I realized that many of them were Greek.  I wanted to hold myself to a higher standard and develop myself further as a scholar and leader.  Going Greek allowed me to better live to this standard and be surrounded by a group of people who help foster this growth.

What is your best Greek memory? 

I have had amazingly fun times participating in various Greek events, both competitive and non-competitive.  At the end of the day, what I cherish most, are the moments of brotherhood that fill the time in between.  The smaller memories and the fun times I have had, just hanging out at the house, or grabbing half-price on a Sunday night.  Those are the memories I'll remember most. 

What has been your favorite Greek event at Carnegie Mellon? Why? 

Although I have always liked Greek Sing, Buggy has easily been my favorite to both participate in and watch.  As anyone who has watched the sweepstakes competition can tell you, it is a very exciting day for both the entire CMU community, both Greek and non-Greek.  The incredibly close finish times and sense of competition are unlike any other activity. 
 
How has being Greek prepared you in life? 

Being Greek, means being part of something larger than yourself.  No longer are you just one person, but you represent an entire legacy of people.  As a former leader in my fraternity, I can honestly say that my experience in the Greek community has made me a better leader and has prepared me for whatever future tasks I may take that require me to both work in and lead a group.