Q+A with Brock Taylor ’24
What made you want to join Phi Psi?
I wanted to join Phi Psi because of the brotherhood and the good times I had heard accompanied it. Being a freshman is a scary yet exciting time of transition. When I first arrived on campus in the summer of 2023, I had no intention of rushing a fraternity. This quickly changed as I began to spend time with other Phi Psis who were also student athletes. They informed me that joining the brotherhood was one of the best decisions they had made since arriving at Vanderbilt. Fast forward two years, and I can confidently say the same.
What role have you taken in the chapter, and what have you learned?
Since joining the chapter, I have taken the role of Scholarships Chair. This role is something I’ve deeply enjoyed because I’ve been exposed to so many things I would have never known were happening in the Fraternity. Seeing all the opportunities that Phi Psi offers to our brothers, not just in financial aid, but in all things needed, has been so cool to see.
How has being in Phi Psi shaped your college experience so far?
Being a Phi Psi has truly given me two of the best years of not only college but also my life. As I said earlier, I had no intentions of rushing a fraternity when I arrived at Vandy, but I thank myself every day for deciding to do so. Being a Phi Psi has brought me so many great friendships outside of athletics, which I feel has allowed me to enjoy what most would call “the college experience.” Being an athlete, I knew my college experience was going to be different than most. However, Phi Psi has brought a new dynamic to my life that not only brings me so much happiness as a student athlete but also helps me in all of my athletic ventures here at Vanderbilt.
What are you studying, and what are your career goals?
I am majoring in Human and Organizational Development (HOD), with two minors in Business and Data Science. My career goals are kind of all over the place. More than anything, I want to continue to play football at the next level. However, I know that football is not forever, so when the time comes for me to hang up the cleats, I hope to work in the finance industry. This is obviously a very broad industry, but I am currently tackling the specific sector I want to focus on, whether it be banking, consulting, etc.
What has been your favorite Phi Psi memory so far?
My favorite Phi Psi memory so far is the time I spent with my pledge class during the new member education portion of initiation. At Vanderbilt, all potential new members spend the fall semester getting to know each other and building relationships with the brothers in each fraternity. As a football player, being in season during the fall, I spent most weekends traveling or in a hotel room, unable to attend many of these relationship-building events. This ultimately resulted in a weaker bond with most of my pledge class compared to the other guys. I was able to strengthen these bonds and make up for the missed time during the new member education process, which is something I will always be grateful for.
Who in the chapter has made the biggest impact on you and why?
For this question, I am going to name two individuals. Oliver Orr ‘24 and Andrew Navarro ‘24 are two students with whom I had no relationship with until we began new member education together. I knew that they were both good guys, but I never knew just how close we would be until we started hanging out in the spring of our freshman year. They have both been such good friends to me and have taught me so much as an individual, without me even knowing. Growing in humility, confidence, and curiosity from two guys that you also enjoy so much as friends has been such an exciting experience, and these are two relationships that I plan to foster for the rest of my life.
How do you stay involved on campus outside of the Fraternity, particularly regarding your football experience?
One of the many things I love about Vanderbilt is how much the university has to offer. Similar to Greek life, I was very skeptical about how much I could be involved, just due to football being somewhat of a full-time job as a student. I quickly realized I was mistaken, and all it takes is hard work and balance to get involved in many different things on campus. Outside of Phi Psi, I am involved in other organizations on campus, such as football, Alpha Kappa Psi Co-ed Business Fraternity, Vanderbilt Consulting Club, Reformed University Fellowship, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and others. That is kind of a mouthful to list, but it is something that I am very proud of. Being extremely involved on campus has allowed me to meet so many other students and faculty members, which has been nothing short of amazing in my first two years of undergrad.
What does Brotherhood mean to you personally?
Brotherhood is extremely important to me. This word holds a deeper meaning because of all the experiences I’ve had as a student athlete throughout my life. I spend about 340 days a year with my teammates on the football team. Working, laughing, and suffering with over 100 guys who share the same mission really highlights the significance of brotherhood. The ups and downs I’ve faced through my sport are what come to mind when I hear the word brotherhood, and it makes me emotional, as it shows how much those guys mean to me.
How has being part of the Fraternity shaped you as a leader or student?
Joining a fraternity is much like being a freshman in college. You feel incredibly nervous and eager to make friends at first, but you soon realize that everyone else is in the same boat, trying to do the same things, which encourages you to break out of your shell and experience it together. Being in a fraternity has taught me how to spend time with people who love me for who I am, and to never feel ashamed of being myself. There is nothing superficial in the bonds of our Fraternity, which is something I cherish, and it deepens my care for all the guys around me. Overcoming the challenge of being yourself around new people is quite difficult, but it is a quality that has shaped me into the student and leader I strive to be today.
What do you hope alumni know about the current chapter experience?
I want every alumnus to know just how much the Fraternity is thriving. I hope to look back as an alumnus and see many students enjoying their time at Phi Psi just as much as I have so far. Knowing that Phi Psi is on a great trajectory excites me, and I believe all alumni should share in the excitement of the brotherhood we are building as well.
What would you tell a freshman considering Greek life and Phi Psi in particular?
Take the step! Nothing about freshman year is necessarily easy but doing all the things you are going to do beside a group of young men that you love like family makes every single bit of it enjoyable!