A Great Eye-Opening Experience

Editor's Note: The John and Nellie Wooden Institute for Men of Principle allows Betas to interact with brothers and Friends of Beta from across North America. Participants share ideas, dissect Fraternity ritual, partake in challenging activities that focus on leadership skills, learn more about the history of Beta Theta Pi and reflect on the Fraternity’s heritage.

Only after three months of being initiated, I found myself surrounded by eighty men who I have never met before and felt completely comfortable with it. I shared one thing in common with all of them - Beta. I was fortunate to attend the Wooden Institute this summer and glad I did because it was amazing. The Wooden Institute was one of the best experiences of my life and everything was fantastic, from the small group discussions, to the large group activities. I had no expectations going into the Wooden Institute and was surprised at how much I got out of it in the end.

I quickly became friends with Betas from across the country and saw the "Beta Spirit" in each person. Only having been a brother for three months, most of it being the summer, this was one of the first times that I felt the Beta Spirit and brotherhood. Every activity at the Wooden Institute had some significant moral lesson connected to Beta. Those lessons helped the undergraduate members reflect on their own experience with Beta and share what they have learned to help the other chapters. The Wooden Institute taught us how to become even better brothers to help prepare us to become great leaders in our own chapters.

I would recommend the Wooden Institute because it is a great eye-opening experience that every new member should experience for themselves. The Wooden Institute is held at the founding place of our fraternity, which is worth the trip alone, but being there with about eighty brothers from across the United States and going through the same experience is truly remarkable.

Reflection by Brian D. Pestotnik '12