When many students begin college, they are awe-struck by the mass amount of activities going on around them. Colleges seem to breathe life into programs such as intramural sports, various student organizations and one organized activity in particular that is unique to the social atmosphere in higher education – Greek life.

Jarrhin Thomas left Morristown High School in New Jersey in search of a different style of existence, and found his way to Wesley. “In my past, I wasn’t the outgoing, outspoken person I am today. I was shy and faded into the background because I didn’t want to be noticed. College has made me realize that you cannot make it fading into the background all of your life,” he explained. Deciding that he needed to take the initiative in order to make his life goals a reality, Thomas began his career at Wesley by getting involved early on.

Thomas stepped out of his shell during his first year on campus and has emerged as a capable and more confident person. Wesley’s small school environment made it easy for Thomas to take full advantage of all that campus life had to offer, including readily available leadership roles. He joined Phyr’d Up (an organization for physical education majors), Psychology Club, became sergeant at arms for the Student Government Association and served as a resident assistant. This past August he attended Camp Saginaw Leadership Retreat, which allowed him to gain insight on how to be a better leader.

Thomas’s Wesley experience has demonstrated the concept of give and take, since many of his student activities have involved community service. So while he has been lending a hand to projects benefiting the campus community and residents of Dover, he also has been honing his leadership skills. Now as a senior, Thomas has a distinguished list of achievements and leadership roles under his belt. He took on one of the most prestigious leadership positions in the Greek community when he became president of co-ed national service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega (APO). He was also crowned Homecoming King 2009.

Throughout Thomas’s term as APO president, he and his fraternity have given back to Wesley and the local area though various philanthropies and community service events. For example, they have assisted Habitat for Humanity and have participated in the Adopt-A-Highway program by cleaning up a strip of U.S. Route 13 four times each academic year. They are sponsors of Relay for Life, an event which raises money to support cancer research. Once a month during the fall and spring semesters, they work with members of Hope Methodist Church at the Hope Closet to distribute personal care and household items to local families in need.

Under Thomas’s leadership, APO has not only been a very active organization, but one that has demonstrated successful collaboration with other students groups on campus. This past semester, they co-sponsored a variety show with the Black Student Union (BSU) to allow Wesley students to showcase their talents. They worked with the Wesley College Diamonds step team in coordinating a carwash to help raise money for the AIDS Walk of Delaware. Most recently, APO joined forces with BSU and Phi Beta Sigma in coordinating A Step for Haiti, a benefit concert which raised over $800 for the Haiti relief fund. A Step for Haiti was hugely successful, drawing an audience that filled Wells Theater to capacity, and it was recently honored as “Campus-wide Program of the Year” at the Student Leadership Awards Brunch.

Going Greek has been an important part of Thomas’s life at Wesley, and the tradition of his fraternity will continue both changed and strengthened by his time as a member and as president. Although he strongly believes in the Greek community, he also feels it needs continued improvement, and he hopes for more growth and participation in the future. He will conclude his term as APO president by educating his predecessor on exactly what needs to be done to continue some of the recent momentum. “I have been through some of the worst times with it [APO] and recently I have had some of the best times. Now that I am passing it off to a brother who I feel will do a great job with it makes all the experiences worthwhile,” he explained. Thomas plans to hold off on his graduation ceremony until 2011, when he will earn a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, a minor in psychology and a coaching certificate. Beyond his Wesley graduation, he looks forward to attending graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in kinesiology and also pursuing a massage therapy license. His ultimate goal is to become a strength and conditioning coach with certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Thomas will leave Wesley knowing he has truly made a difference on and off campus. “The greatest gift I have received since coming to Wesley is discovering from within what I am truly capable of,” he expressed. He advises fellow students to “be open to all ideas and activities the College has to offer. Do not shortchange yourself out of a complete college experience by staying cooped in a dorm room. Be social, be excited, and get involved.”