Students filled with hope and dreams. Students who have just started their life. Students who still work on their future. Students who believe in a brighter tomorrow coming after years of sacrifices and struggles in school. Students who were supposed to be the hope of generation next. But in just a blink of an eye. They’re gone. Gone are the promises they kept with their parents to finish school. Gone are the dreams they were supposed to fulfill. Gone are they. Gone are the brighter future they were about to take. All gone.

Integrity. Loyalty. Assurance. Protection. These are the words of encouragement from these so called “recruiters” of different clans commonly known as fraternity or sorority.

So good to hear. So promising to believe in. Yet so dangerous to survive.

Initiation. One word which starts the expedition of the students who seek for acceptance in a clan. It’s just the beginning but in a blink of an eye, it becomes the ending. Why do people need to be punished for the sake of happiness to those who are on top? Why do they need to be spanked until their skin turn into bulging bluish? Why do they need to keep still, even when they are already bursting with pain? Who are we to make another person suffer for the sake of accepting him/her? Do we have a definite reason to do so?

I guess it’s not definitely worth it. Membership is not worth a life burned to death. I am not blaming anyone or convincing every mind to generally take what I’m saying, but to ask you, am I stating the right thing? (Well, that depends on you)

Through the years, the essence of joining and initiating in every fraternity seemed to be degrading. As what we see on the headline, it’s described as barbaric and inhumane. It’s an opinion but nearing the truth.

My reaction on what I see on victims is plain sorrow and grief. They died in a situation they chose to be in but didn’t expect it to be that worse.

We all know, life is as sacred as life it is. But I do feel bad for people who put their life at stake or whose lives were put on stake just for the interest of others.

To those who are still planning to do so, think first of what your future will be. Is it worth it? Will it be that good? Does it cost you much? If it would cost you your life, think twice and choose the right thing. May your minds be enlightened to follow the right path. Brotherhood for brotherhood. Justice for devastation. May the right cause bring the belonging we longed for.