The Story Behind the Scar
Choosing to brand at college fraternities
Most of the time scars are accidental, but for Jaylan Padilla, his scar was by choice.
Greek life has grown to be an important part of the college experience. Most students wear their letters occasionally on t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats, but Padilla will wear his Greek letters on his arm, forever.
To some this might sound crazy or painful, but when Jaylan got his brand he did it for brotherhood.
“Branding” is a tradition that has been a part of Greek history for years. The process consists of heating up a metal rod shaped in Greek letters and pressing it to the skin.
The process of branding might sound crazy or painful, but when Padilla decided to get his brand, he did it for brotherhood.
Padilla is a member of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Inc. He joined his freshman year of college, but didn’t receive his brand until he had been a brother for two years.
He wasn’t pressured or forced into getting branded. Padilla got his brand because to him it shows how much the fraternity means to him. “It’s a reminder of the lessons, trials, tribulations that me as a brother has gone through,” said Padilla
Scars are permanent. They don’t go away and even though they might fade they will always be there. Padilla looks at his brand and remembers that he is constantly wearing his letters and always representing the fraternity that made him into the man he is today.
“Branding isn’t for everyone,” says Padilla. “Getting a brand to me is earning and respecting the letters you engrave permanently into your body…”
People question Padilla when they see his scar. You may wonder who gets a scar purposely or why go through the pain? For Padilla it’s more than the pain and more than the scar. It’s what makes him who he is.
PART TWO: Branding: How It’s Done
PART THREE: Branding: On the Other Side