The Power of Returning: Why Alumni Events Matter

Alumni events are special. They bring together people who studied at the same place but at different times. These events let you meet all sorts of people and can stir up many positive feelings.

When you attend an alumni event, you might feel a strong sense of belonging and ownership towards your institute. It's as if the institute is partly yours, and you have a role in making it better. This feeling can inspire you to reach out to current students, share your experiences, and help clear their doubts. You get to offer the kind of guidance you wish you had received as a student. This exchange is priceless for these young minds.

You get to meet other alumni too. Some finished at the institute long before you, others after you left. It's fun to share stories and learn from each other. You might find you have a lot in common, even if you graduated years apart. You could make new friends or even find some professional synergies.

Think about other networking events. At those, you might meet 100 people with no clear connection. You have to start with small talk and work hard to find common ground. But at alumni events, you already have a strong starting point. You all share the experience of your institute. This makes it much easier to start good conversations and build connections.

Meeting the faculty who taught you years ago is another great part of these events. You can have whole hearted conversations with them, sharing your journey since graduation. Seeing their excitement and pride in your achievements can be very satisfying. It reminds you of the important role they played in shaping your future. These moments of mutual appreciation are truly special.

It's important to acknowledge the many supporting staff members who helped shape your time at the institute. Looking back, you might realize that your journey wasn't always perfectly smooth, perhaps due to your own immature expectations at the time. However, with the perspective that comes with time, it becomes clear that these individuals worked hard within their capabilities to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Each of them played a crucial role in your educational journey. Alumni events offer a wonderful opportunity to express your gratitude to these hardworking people. Your words of appreciation, now tempered with mature understanding, can mean a lot to them and help bridge the gap between past perceptions and present realizations.

These events also show you how your old institute has grown and changed. You might see new buildings, hear about new courses, or notice improved facilities. Witnessing this progress can be a real pleasure. It can make you feel proud and want to contribute to your institute's continued growth.

Here's an interesting contrast to consider: In the corporate world, your departure might be marked with a farewell party, or it might pass without much notice. Either way, once you leave, that connection often ends. The door usually closes behind you. But your relationship with your educational institute is different. Even though you only spent a few years there, your institute continues to welcome you back warmly, year after year. They celebrate your achievements and value your ongoing connection. This lasting bond shows how deeply educational institutions appreciate their alumni, creating a two-way relationship that stands the test of time.

Going to an alumni event is like traveling back in time. You can see how you've changed and grown. It's a chance to think about your old days and see how far you've come. You might remember how, as a student, you judged your faculty and classmates based on many things. Looking back now, those judgments might seem silly. This reflection can help you become a better person.

At alumni events, the year you graduated doesn't define your experience. Whether you're from the first batch or the most recent, everyone has something unique to offer. For instance, as members of the 5th batch since our institute's founding, we had the privilege of meeting a senior from the very first batch. This interaction, bridging a gap of over 20 graduating classes, was truly inspiring. It showed us the rich history of our institute and the diverse perspectives each batch brings with over 10000+ students coming out over the past 25 years under various courses. Such encounters fuel enthusiasm for future alumni events, reminding us that no matter when we attended, we're all part of the same enduring legacy.

Whether you're talking to other alumni, helping current students, catching up with faculty, or thanking staff, it all matters. Try going to an alumni event. You might be surprised at how good it makes you feel, how it helps you grow as a person, and how it strengthens your connection to your alma mater.

If you can't attend in person, try to join virtually. Many institutes now offer online options for alumni events. Make it a habit to attend, whether in person or online. It's a great way to stay connected.

I'm delighted that Uttam Dwivedi from our batch joined me in attending our college's Silver Jubilee event last weekend and hoping to connect/reconnect more people from the alumni fraternity without waiting for the next alumni event.

A big thanks to my alma mater, Indian Institute Of Information Technology Allahabad , for taking the initiative to organize such a grand and memorable event. The arrangements made for 100+ alumni were on par with any top business event and thanks to all the visionary management, faculty and the student organisers. I hope this number grows exponentially for the future alumni events and institute becomes better with the 'time' given by alumni as that is all the institute's management urged us to give back fundamentally. Alongside this institute welcomed alumni to explore executive education options, support existing labs or setup new labs in the industry mentor capacity and become the visiting faculty for the current students based on our niche.

So don't wait to be invited. Ask about alumni events. By going, you're not just thinking about old times. You're helping your institute and all the people there now.Success in life extends beyond just having a good job. It's about using your knowledge and experience to make a positive impact on others. Alumni events provide the perfect platform for this kind of meaningful contribution. They offer opportunities to share your insights, guide the next generation, and give back to the community that helped shape you. By participating in these events, you're not just celebrating your own achievements, but also helping to nurture the success of others.