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When that 50th College Reunion rolls around
When that 50th College Reunion rolls around:
Do you look forward to it?
Automatically decide to/not to go?
Worry about your appearance or not measuring up to others’ career paths?
Think you won’t know anyone there?
Think: Already? and Where did the time go?
Get involved in planning it and meeting up with favorite classmates?
When my 50th college reunion rolled around, I did just about all of the above.
What happens as that 50th College Reunion rolls around
What happens is that, as that 50th College Reunion rolls around you receive notices from your college alumni association giving you a heads up. You also may receive phone calls from classmates who have stepped up to volunteer to reach out to alumni.
Someone may create a Facebook page to promote your reunion. Or, if there already is a Facebook page for your class, start adding reunion information to it.
Your college will probably create Facebook and other online notifications about what is happening on campus during the reunion. You may have a choice of signing up online or by mail for programs, events, and dinners. Some offer the option of staying in a dorm or hotel block, if you need overnight accommodations.
You may be asked for a recent photo and brief bio for inclusion in a Reunion booklet.
What to do and prepare for as that 50th College Reunion rolls around
Laughter, lots of laughter and smiles. I’ve found that whenever alumni gather, there’s lots of stories swapped and bursts of laughter.
Memorabilia. If you have some keepsakes from your college days, it’s time to dig them out. Gather them to bring and share at your reunion.
Your yearbook. If you still have it, go through it to refresh your memory about faculty, campus life, and your classmates. If you don’t have a copy, sometimes you can buy them online or find a digital copy. You might get lucky and find one in a thrift or consignment shop.
Meet-ups with classmates. If you don’t have contact information for those that you want to get together with, ask your college alumni office to help with that. Staff should alert your classmates and get permission to share information.
Accept your appearance has changed, but so has everyone else’s. It really won’t matter. Being there is what is important.
Review your accomplishments and life highlights. Prepare a mental list of some highlights of your life ahead of time. Your classmates will want to know where your career path took you. Prepping ahead of time keeps the conversation on key points.
If you think attending a class reunion, especially a 50th, is a waste of time. Rethink that.
- You may connect with someone who is in your own backyard who may turn into a new friend or resource
- You will find your fear of not knowing anyone doesn’t matter. People go to meet up with those who had a common major, professor, or coach.
- You may think where you received your undergraduate degree doesn’t matter, but it helped form your future.
- You may think it will be boring. But as people gather, the joy and laughter is contagious.
- You may think you don’t need to see people from your past, but maybe they would benefit from seeing you.
- You may think people have forgotten you, but you’d be surprised.
- You may learn about connections, secrets, and funny events you weren’t aware of.
- You may laugh more than you thought possible when reminiscing.
- You may find classmates who took a similar career path and have common interests.
- You may reconnect with people who will enrich your present life.
- You may correct some past misconceptions of yours and others.
- You will find joy in remembering people and in them remembering you.
- You may find that celebrating this milestone leads to positive life changes.
When the opportunity of a college or classmate reunion rolls around, grab it
As the former Executive Director of a university alumni association, I’ve been involved with a variety of alumni events. Many of them weren’t reunions, but gatherings of alumni of various years for various events. No matter the group, no matter that many didn’t know each other, everyone had a great time.
The synergy of attending the same institution and having certain professors, living in a dorm, playing sports, acting in plays, or publishing the campus newspaper, all lead to engaging conversations.
When alumni gather, something special happens. Don’t miss out!
Did you attend your 50th or other significant college reunion? How was it? Please leave your comments below.
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