Excellence. Leadership. Service. Brotherhood. As with all fraternities, the Phi Kappa Mu stands with its own set of virtues, or “pillars”, which all of its members aspire to attain. These words, at least in the context of being a Phi, are not mere adjectives to be thrown around lightly. They are what make the Phi Kappa Mu different from the rest—the Phi brand, so to say.
Of the four pillars of the Fraternity, the one that always comes before the others is Excellence. This is because the Phi brand of Excellence is different from its traditional definition of academic achievement. It is much more than that. It involves excellence in all aspects of one’s life—from being a student or doctor, to your values as a person, and even to your ability to be a good influence to others. Using this as a definition, one can then attain the other pillars of Leadership, Service, and Brotherhood, as long as one maintains Phi excellence.
Why then does the concept of “Phi excellence” exist in the first place? Why was there a need to create a separate concept specifically for the brothers of the Phi Kappa Mu? It is because there is more to life than just excelling in academics. To be a good doctor, you need to not only know the theory behind the various conditions of the body, but also be able to interact with patients and their relatives. That kind of skill does not come from reading books or listening to lectures; instead, it comes from learning how to deal with others, as well as being able to overcome difficulties no matter how big they may seem. That is what Phi excellence is all about, and is what is trained in all its brothers.
In terms of being a student, Phi excellence does not pertain only to that of academic excellence. It also includes excellence in the other aspects of student life, such as extracurricular activities, music, and sports, among others. On being a doctor, it pertains to being excellent not only in the clinics, but also when it comes to other positions that one may have. Phi excellence does not stop at school or in the hospital, however; it also entails spending time with your family and friends, and, of course, your brothers. Essentially, Phi excellence means having to be able to balance one’s time well, such that all aspects of one’s life are in good shape.
With that being said, it takes a certain attitude towards challenges and obstacles to be able to attain Phi excellence. First, it must be ensured that one’s values are not compromised in the process of its achievement. There is a reason why the elder brothers of the Phi Kappa Mu chose the word “venerable” to describe the Fraternity. As a Fraternity, it need not be said that the action of a brother affects the rest, for better or for worse. If there is something that is beyond one’s capabilities, he should either ask his brothers for help (in which they will be ready to assist), or take it as a challenge upon himself for improvement. This leads me to the second characteristic one must possess to achieve Phi excellence, and that is “grit”. Grit is unwavering persistence in the face of adversity. It is the ability to take criticism, no matter how it is conveyed, and turn it into personal improvement. This is what one learns in the Fraternity. With the number of events that its brothers organize every year, there are bound to be problems encountered along the way—and with problems come criticisms, both externally and within the Fraternity. These criticisms must always be viewed as room for improvement, and grit is what allows one to view it as such.
Eventually, as one gains more experience under his belt, he will then be able to pass on the knowledge that he has accumulated over the years to his other brothers. As well with his experience, he will then be able to lead others which, in one way or another, is service to his constituents. This is how attaining Phi excellence lets one embody the other pillars of Leadership, Service, and Brotherhood.
What was just described is merely a framework for Phi excellence. As with any other concept or principle, it is open to interpretations which may be vastly different from what was just mentioned. There is always room for individualisation, depending on one’s own circumstances and personalities. What’s important, however, as a brother of the Phi Kappa Mu, is to strive for Phi excellence, no matter how difficult the journey may be.
