A Distinction

On December 5 in the auspicious year of 1776, the scholastic honor society Phi Beta Kappa was founded in Williamsburg, Virginia, by people at the College of William and Mary.

On May 17, 2013, an auspicious year of my life, I was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa chapter at Valparaiso University, along with about 20-30 others, the majority of whom would graduate from ValpU two days later.  ValpU recently entered into this prestigious society, within the past decade or so, having met the rigorous standards to have such a chapter.

I was reminded of PBK's founding date earlier today when I looked at the entries in the Chicago Tribune's almanac.  It gives me pause to think about what my membership in this society means.

I went into college with the intention of studying the science of meteorology.  I came out with a scientific education complimented by studies in the liberal arts.  The combined science and liberal arts education I received at ValpU has surely made me a well-rounded person with a great mind and strong character.  I look at the world in ways shaped by the analytical skills of science and those that come out of the liberal arts, with no small thanks to all my humanities studies, especially philosophy, in Christ College.

So it was with great pleasure that I entered into Phi Beta Kappa, as it represents a distinction that I am pleased to carry forth into the rest of my life.