Leaving home for college is always a big transition, but for Brother Mateo Vizcarra (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, ‘25), it meant moving across continents and adapting to a new way of life.
Coming from Lima, Peru, where most students commute to university, living on his own at RPI was an entirely new experience. While the distance from his family was a challenge, he sought out a community that would make RPI feel like home. Through campus involvement, he not only found support but also discovered opportunities he never expected.
Vizcarra became involved at RPI as soon as he could, joining multiple clubs and organizations. There were no fraternities or fraternity-like groups in Peru, so joining one wasn’t initially in his plan. He tried out for a few A Capella groups on campus, eventually joining Partial Credit A Capella in the spring of his freshman year. He also joined the swimming club and Engineers Without Borders. It wasn’t until the spring of his freshman year that he considered the idea of joining a fraternity.
There were many things that attracted Vizcarra to Lambda Chi. The anti-hazing stance of the Fraternity was huge for him. Even though his familiarity with fraternities was minimal, he knew the negative stereotype. He wanted a positive experience from joining, so this stance made a difference.
The dynamic of the RPI Brothers attracted him as well. They were very diverse, all having different hobbies, majors, club affiliations and more. They were also positive and friendly. After getting to know the Brothers a bit more through his spring semester, Vizcarra eventually joined in the fall of 2022.
Throughout the next few years, Vizcarra did his best to keep himself well organized and balanced in all his involvements, sometimes having to push some to the side to give himself more time to focus on his academics. Having that balance gave Vizcarra the opportunity to hold positions in some of the clubs he was involved with. In his junior year, he became the music director for his A Capella group, planning rehearsals and teaching arrangements to the group. He also is the current president for Engineers Without Borders.
Looking back on his time at RPI, Vizcarra sees how much he has grown through his experiences and involvement on campus. From joining clubs and organizations to taking on leadership roles, he embraced every opportunity to build connections and develop new skills. Lambda Chi became a key part of his college journey, offering him a supportive Brotherhood that shaped his experience. As he moves forward, the lessons he learned in balancing academics, leadership, and community will continue to guide him beyond RPI.
