One Final Tribute
5/11/02 12:00pm

When one steps away from the busy course of their college lives, it becomes clearly evident how profoundly influenced each of us are by the friends we make and the happiness and laughters that are derived from them. As Spring semester 2002 draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to share my gratitude, admiration, and loyalties to the friends that made this year an unforgettable one.

A YMB Family...
It may be hard for some to imagine a basis of brotherhood born, not from blood nor pledging, but from one Penland dorm room. The YMB Charter class consisted of several underclassmen males of different asian race. Despite the cultural variances and our low-social status (we were, afterall, freshmans of minority race at a predominantely caucasion University), the YMBs of Y2K became a close-knit group. A brotherhood was born.
Today, I only have to look across my current WP apartment to find my YMB brother Chris, a future Bio-chem wiz and one of the smartest guys I know. He`s always been a reliable and a first-class roommate, but our Junior year was faced with many adversities. There was my weed problem that blind-sightedly got in the way of our friendship. There was also the MCATs that kept his nose in the books and away from the partying that I was mostly involved with. And then there was Tina, who came out of no where and swept him off his feet. Now she`s a regular at WP604 and a welcomed addition.
During our sophomore year, we moved into the coveted YMB Central, where we expanded our brotherhood to the freshman class (J.Lee & Johnny), while at the same time learning from upper classmen as our guides and leaders (Big Tae & B. Dawg). Eventually, YMB Central became home to many of us, girls and boys alike. A family was born.
The scene is Fuddruckers in early May. Two long adjacent tables stretches across the smoking section, filledwith the faces of the YMB extended family. I look around and I can`t help but smile. Hwanger cracks a joke, B. Dawg laughs loudly, J.Lee and Suemy sit quietly at the far end of the table, while Chris and Tina anxiously await the outcome of the Pacers-Nets game. The dinner`s significance lies in the fact that we`ve passed the test of time, we`ve matured as a group, and even after 3 years of top notch comaraderie, we still stick together as one unit. Sure there may be drama once in awhile, but a family will get through it together. Furthermore, I hope I could be half as influential to the young`ns as guys like Big Tae & B. Dawg have been for us. To teach, to pass down, to accompany, to share; these are all the finer aspects of the YMB family. Remember how YMB used to have a monicker that read "We are the future," even featuring a H.O.T. dance with the same name? I hope to lead the way: The future is now.