Graduation marks the conclusion of one chapter while allowing the beginning of another; however, that chapter doesn’t need to close for good. Staying connected with your alma mater can be advantageous for numerous reasons. Amid the demands of social events and work commitments, how can you carve out time to remain an active and engaged alumnus? As the academic year kicks off, explore our suggestions on how to balance your involvement and enjoy the benefits long after the graduation ceremony.
Elevate your engagement
“I urge recent graduates to begin by attending one or two events each year,” Katie O’Sullivan, communications director at Nerinx Hall High School in St. Louis, Missouri, advises. “Agree to participate in one volunteer or community service project or event that gets publicized. At Nerinx, we occasionally host sessions for current students where we seek adult professionals from various fields to discuss their careers, and it typically requires just a two-hour time commitment, once.”
O’Sullivan mentions that engaging in these singular events can lead to more substantial involvement.
“Volunteering on a limited basis often paves the way to greater opportunities like joining boards and being involved in significant volunteer work or mentorship roles,” she explains, noting that similar logic applies to making financial contributions. “If you believe you benefited from your school or organization, consider giving back financially. Many assume it needs to be a large sum, but contributing $5 or $10 monthly can make a meaningful impact.”
Moreover, this can yield valuable returns in terms of forging relationships.
“Contributing financially keeps you on active email distribution lists where you can learn about local opportunities and events that may pique your interest,” O’Sullivan shares. “I have immense respect for alums who contribute back to their educational institutions, especially those who are in college or recently graduated. If someone reaches out looking for candidates for internships or job openings, these alumni are often at the forefront of my mind.”
Alumni connections can bridge age and geography
As a proud alumna of Lafayette High School in Wildwood, Missouri, now residing in Chicago, Illinois, I am pleased to respond to the query my hometown is known for: Where did you attend high school? While some may feel this question promotes stereotypes or potential judgment, I perceive it as a means of gathering information: it sheds light on my upbringing, helps identify shared acquaintances, etc. Discovering we both attended the same high school, albeit in different graduating years, instantly gives us more common ground.
O’Sullivan shares a heartwarming story about developing these types of connections. As a past chapter president for the University of Missouri-Columbia’s Alpha Delta Pi sorority, she maintains ties within a lifetime membership community exceeding 250,000 alumnae. Her volunteering journey with the sorority began in 2009, three years following her undergraduate studies.
“I’ve met countless women nationwide who have become close friends through our shared involvement in ADPi,” she reveals.
While acting as a chapter advisor for the sorority, O’Sullivan connected with another woman in a similar position. Their friendship has flourished over 12 years, and O’Sullivan is now the godmother of this woman’s child.
“We attended different colleges and had no shared acquaintances, even on Facebook!” O’Sullivan recounts. “Had I not accepted volunteering opportunities, I would never have met her or her family.”
The networking opportunities are boundless
“I secured my first job due to my sorority involvement featured on my resume,” O’Sullivan states. “After being hired, I asked the hiring manager what distinguished me from the other finalists, and she noted that knowing I had served as a sorority president at 21 and managed teams and budgets convinced her I would excel in the role. While there are certainly companies where this may not be advantageous to mention, many organizations view it positively.”
O’Sullivan emphasizes that while networking through an organization’s LinkedIn page is an excellent starting point, nothing can substitute for attending alumni events in person.
“It can be intimidating to attend a happy hour or service event where you know no one, but it’s a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself and start fostering relationships that could develop into friendships, mentorships, or professional connections later on,” she explains.
However, professional networking doesn’t always yield immediate results once you discover a common educational or fraternal background.
“Some recent graduates assume that sending a single email to someone with a shared experience will swiftly lead to a job offer,” she notes. “While this can occasionally happen, over time, these connections have proved invaluable in my job searches and in finding peers to collaborate with or have meaningful conversations.”
If your college experience was rewarding, it serves as an even greater motivation to get—and remain—connected.
“I wanted to ensure that others had the alumni support to enjoy the same great experiences I did,” O’Sullivan says. “Sororities, colleges, and private high schools all often convey the message that the experience isn’t just about four years but a lifetime commitment.”
