Honor Societies Aren’t Just About Grades

When I was in high school, my friends in college would tell me that they were part of their college’s honor society. Back then, I imagined it as something very difficult to reach. Now that I’m at Miami Dade College and part of Phi Theta Kappa, the world’s largest and most prestigious honor society for community colleges, I can confirm that it is, indeed, challenging, but it’s worth the effort.

I moved to Miami almost two years ago and as an international student decided to aim for the best grades I could possibly achieve–an A in every class. Maintaining a 4.0 GPA has helped me a lot. It was the main reason why I got invited to be part of PTK (membership requirement is to have 3.5+ GPA). However, once I became a member of this amazing society, I realized that education signifies much more than just having good grades. Phi Theta Kappa has shown me  the importance of taking advantage of all the resources available to students, and how significant it is to learn and help others around you to learn as well.

Many argue that paying a fee to join an honor society is a waste of money. I can say with confidence that it isn’t. At MDC, we are very lucky to have an active PTK executive board that aspires to involve every member in every way possible. There even is a Whatsapp group chat where all the important opportunities that happen  around campus are announced, including volunteer events and scholarships. Moreover, a new point system has been introduced to keep everyone involved which includes prizes and higher positions as members. For instance, last year I won the Outstanding Team Member Award at the Induction Ceremony. I didn’t even notice that I was contributing so much; I just knew I was having fun and meeting a lot of new people while volunteering.

Now let’s talk about scholarships–the best part of honor societies for many. Phi Theta Kappa offers hundreds of scholarships worth 87 million. However, as with everything else in life, you can’t ask for something without working to obtain it. Multiple scholarships are going to be available to you, but it is your responsibility to pay attention to deadlines and participate in opportunities that will allow you to show your involvement with the honor society.

Being part of an honor society is more than just getting good grades. So, please aspire to join one. It will not only encourage you to excel in class but will teach you how to work in a team and how to use your time wisely. This is my advice to you: don’t wait until it’s too late to get involved on campus. It will amaze you when you see how beautiful it is to help others while improving your resume by having more responsibilities and accomplishments, and potentially getting scholarships.