For most people, college is a time to figure out who they are becoming. For Jason Drucker, Florida ‘23, that process came with an unusual twist. Long before stepping onto the University of Florida campus, he had already lived a life few of his classmates could imagine. By the age of eight, Jason was working professionally in television. By his early teens, he had carried a major feature film. Recognition followed him everywhere, even when he no longer sought it.

And yet, when Jason arrived at Florida, he was not searching for the spotlight. He was searching for something steady. “I had no intentions on joining Greek life,” he said. “It wasn’t part of the plan.”

Acting entered Jason’s life almost by accident. At six years old, a short summer theater camp introduced him to performing. He loved it immediately, not for the fame or future possibilities, but for the simple joy of making people laugh. With encouragement from his mother, that enjoyment turned into auditions, representation, and eventually professional roles. By eight, he had booked a Nickelodeon series filmed near his South Florida home. In 2016, he landed the lead role in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, a project that took him to Atlanta for months and placed him at the center of a global franchise.

Looking back now, that chapter feels surreal. “It’s like a fever dream,” Jason said. “Sometimes I watch clips and think, ‘Was that really me?’”

The distance between then and now has grown. It has been seven years since his last acting job, and with time, the recognition that once defined his daily life has faded. As a freshman, students still approached him across campus and even showed up at his chapter house asking for the character he played. That attention eventually tapered off, replaced by something Jason values far more.

“Being able to just live a normal college life has been amazing,” he said. “I feel like I got the best of both worlds.”

Delta Sigma Phi entered that “normal” life through family. Jason’s older brother was already a member of the Florida chapter and saw potential that Jason could not yet see himself. After weeks of encouragement, a few events, and some resistance, Jason finally gave in.

“Right away, I knew,” he said. “These were my people.”

What struck him was not the social aspect or visibility of fraternity life, but the sense of belonging. The relationships felt immediate and familiar, grounded in trust and shared values rather than reputation.

“That’s Delta Sig,” he said. “Guys you feel like you’ve known your entire life.”

What began as brotherhood quickly became responsibility. The Florida chapter, rechartered in 2018, was still young and defining its identity. “There was so much potential,” he said. “We weren’t just maintaining a chapter. We were creating one.” Jason recognized the opportunity to build something with lasting impact. He took on leadership roles, eventually serving as vice president of recruitment and then chapter president.

Leadership gave Jason something acting never could. On set, success often depended on timing, luck, and forces beyond his control. In Delta Sigma Phi, effort translated directly into outcomes. Culture could be shaped. Systems could be built. The benefits would be felt not just by the current membership, but by brothers who had not yet joined.

“That’s what fulfills me,” he said. “Building something that other people can grow into.”

Attending the Fraternity’s national convention solidified that sense of purpose. “I thought I understood what Delta Sig was,” he said. “Convention showed me how much bigger it really is.” Meeting brothers from across the country and listening to alumni reflect on decades of membership expanded his view of Delta Sigma Phi beyond Gainesville.

The experience reignited his passion at a critical moment. Returning to campus just before the start of the fall semester, Jason brought renewed energy to the chapter and a deeper appreciation for the role he played in its direction.

Now entering his senior year as a film and television major, Jason is focused on blending the experiences that shaped him. His early acting career taught him how unpredictable the industry can be. His time at Florida has taught him the value of preparation, collaboration, and creating opportunities rather than waiting for them.

“You’re better off creating the job than waiting for it to come to you,” he said.

That mindset guides his plans after graduation. Whether in front of the camera or behind it, Jason hopes to build projects from the ground up, drawing on the network he has developed both before college and during it.

His commitment to Delta Sigma Phi does not end with graduation. He plans to remain involved as a mentor and resource, staying close to the chapter he helped shape.

“I wouldn’t be doing my job as a brother if I just disappeared,” he said.

For Jason, Delta Sigma Phi is not a footnote in his story. It is the chapter where everything came into focus. The place where a former child actor learned how to lead, how to build, and how to belong without performing.

“This chapter changed my life,” he said. “And I want to keep giving back to it for as long as I can.”