Resources
Written By: Summer Clarkson 
To see the full virtual conversation with Bennett Luke visit here.
College creates a constant conflict between what you should be doing and what you do not want to miss.
Study or go out with friends? Get more sleep or stay up talking with your brothers? Save the money or take the trip? Work toward your goals or enjoy the free time you have right now?
During a September 15 conversation with Sigma Pi undergraduate members, life coach Bennett Luke offered a framework for approaching those decisions: understand the chapter of life you are in.
Different chapters require different priorities.
A chapter might last four years. It might last one semester. Sometimes, it lasts one week. Recognizing the difference helps you make decisions with greater intention.
College Is Its Own Chapter
Luke encouraged members to appreciate how unusual the college experience is.
For many students, few other stages of life will offer the same combination of independence, flexibility, friendships, and access to experiences.
Within a fraternity, that experience becomes even more distinct. Dozens of friends might live nearby. Someone is available to work out, get dinner, study, attend an event, take a trip, or spend time together. Leadership opportunities are everywhere.
Members have access to a community that becomes harder to replicate as careers, families, and other responsibilities grow.
Luke’s message was not to ignore academics, health, finances, or future goals in favor of having fun. His message was to understand what is available to you now and make intentional choices about how you spend your time.
Some Seasons Require Greater Focus
Living intentionally also means knowing when priorities need to change.
Luke used finals as an example. During most of a semester, students balance classes with friends, fraternity activities, work, exercise, and other commitments. Finals create a different chapter.
For a short period, academics need more attention. That might mean:
- Saying no to social plans
- Protecting your sleep
- Reducing distractions
- Spending additional time studying
- Adjusting your normal routine
Once finals end, the priorities shift again.
Rather than expecting yourself to maintain the same routine throughout an entire year, Luke encouraged members to identify what the current period requires from them.
Make the Memory
One of the themes that resonated most with members during the discussion was Luke’s advice to invest in memories.
Luke studied finance in college and began investing money at a young age. Looking back, he said there were times he placed so much emphasis on saving that he declined trips and experiences with friends.
His lesson was not to stop saving. It was to recognize that experiences have value, too.
A weekend trip with fraternity brothers, attending a game in another state, studying abroad, or saying yes to an unexpected opportunity might become part of the stories you tell for decades.
Financial responsibility matters. So does recognizing when an experience is worth having.
Relationships Deserve Your Time
Understanding your current chapter also means recognizing the people sharing it with you.
Luke repeatedly returned to relationships throughout his presentation.
His advice included:
- Call your friends instead of relying only on text messages
- Tell people what you appreciate about them
- Talk openly about your problems
- Spend time together without constant distractions
- Meet people outside your normal circle
- Be intentional about maintaining meaningful friendships
Fraternity creates opportunities for those habits every day.
The men sitting next to you in a chapter meeting might later live hundreds or thousands of miles away. The brother down the hall will not always be down the hall.
Being intentional means treating those relationships as a priority while you have the opportunity.
Prepare for the Next Chapter Without Skipping This One
College should prepare you for what comes next.
Develop discipline. Learn how to lead. Improve your health. Build financial habits. Pursue internships. Establish career goals. Take academics seriously.
At the same time, preparing for your future should not require rushing through your present. The goal is balance.
Ask yourself:
- What chapter am I in right now?
- What deserves the most attention during this period?
- What opportunities are unique to this moment?
- What do I want to remember when this chapter ends?
Then make your decisions accordingly.