Deciding What To Share With Alumni Relations

By Arthur Cook


After you graduate from high school or college, you may lose touch with people from your school. You become so busy making a life for yourself that you never stop to wonder how your old friends are doing or if they ever think of you and the good times you had together. As times for reunions approach, you realize you know nothing about these individuals and they likewise know nothing about you since graduation. You can keep them informed and publish details of yourself by knowing what information to give to alumni relations.

One of first questions you will be asked presumably involves whether or not you have gotten married. This question is pertinent because it could affect by what name you will be called at the reunion. Your last name might have changed after you married and your maiden name may no longer apply to your identity.

The people putting together the gathering also may want to know if you had children. Classmates will be curious to discover how many kids you had and what their names are. This information could help build a bridge among friends with whom you have lost contact.

It would not be a reunion without sharing information about your current and past careers. Perhaps you are working a fantastic job halfway across the country. Maybe you remained a stay at home parent close to home. Regardless, these facts might fascinate people you once knew. You too may be curious about what they are up to nowadays.

Likewise, you could be asked where you live right now. Did you stay close to your old high school or college? Did you pick up stakes and move halfway across the country or world? Sharing details of where you live might also help break the ice. You likewise can find out where others in your class live right now.

You may wonder why anyone would care about these details. Why should you share them or make them known to others? In cases of reunions, old classmates often want to compare or contrast themselves to you. They want to measure their own successes in life by what you have done with yours.

Some people might genuinely be curious about you and care about what you might have done in life so far. They could become valuable allies in a job search or be able to offer a helping hand if needed. They do not wish you any ill will but rather hope that you have done well with your career and family and want to share in your joy.

Class reunions are times for alumni to meet and rebuild friendships. Breaking the ice requires some upfront details about you right now, however. You are in charge of what you want to disclose. Still, when you are curious about old classmates, it might only be fair for you to share information with them as well.




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