Mostly we notice our alumni when they invade campus en masse with lots of orange-wearing, shouting, singing and drinking. But the signs of how alumni involve themselves in students’ lives are everywhere, though some are more obvious than others. As I inch closer to becoming an alumnus, I’ve been pondering how I can contribute.
There are the oft-recognized alumni contributions on campus. We’ve heard about Annual Giving recently. A lot. And we know the alumni with the megabucks get buildings named after them. Unfortunately, I doubt I’ll ever make enough to donate a building or even one of those flat-screen TVs for dining services. But for those with extra cash, Whitman North Hall B can have your name on it.
These contributions make life at Princeton pretty sweet. When I was a member of the Editorial Board, whose raison d’etre is complaining about things, we were sometimes reduced to writing about the noises that radiators make: “Some have described these banging noises as the sound of a man who is stuck in the radiators and is trying to get out.” If you don’t believe we have it good, go study abroad. And let’s not forget the most of us wouldn’t be here without financial aid funded by alumni. For me, a special shout out goes to the Wahrsager family. Thank you.
Alumni do more than give their money to Princeton and return occasionally to get wasted for three days straight. I’ve realized that alumni have been central to almost all of my most meaningful Princeton experiences. Let me explain.
The summer after my freshman year, I interned with Princeton Internships in Civic Service, which was founded and is supported by alumni. As part of the program, I was assigned an alumnus mentor. We’ve stayed in touch for the last three years, and he’s been an invaluable guide and friend. Whenever I need advice, I reach out to him. Recently he’s had some excellent thoughts about where I might want to go for a post-graduation “boondoggle.”
A few months later, I went on tour with the Triangle Club. At every stop, alumni came to watch the show and then stayed for hours afterward while we tore down our set. Then they drove us to their homes, fed us, told us Princeton lore, and shared with us something about themselves, including in one case a passion for collecting yogurt lids. I’ve been on three tours, and each has been a tremendous experience, made possible because of alumni who opened their hearts and homes.
Incidentally, Triangle shows would not be successful without the support of alumni who work side by side with students to ensure stagecraft functions, envelopes get stuffed, and skits and songs offend just enough and not too much. Many other groups on campus have their own equivalent alumni supporters.
During the summer following my junior year, I met another Princetonian at the office where I was interning. This trusty young alumnus made sure I knew what I needed to do to be successful at my first real job. I’ll let you in on his first secret: Carry a lot of pens. Because of his sage advice, I will be gainfully employed after graduation, thus making my own personal contribution to the Schwartz Family Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Perhaps my most remarkable encounter was in Brussels, where I had gone to interview European Union officials for my thesis. It was late August. I know now that tracking down Europeans at work in August is harder than herding cats. It didn’t help that I was negotiating with French-speaking receptionists when I was armed with little more French than “merci” and “avec frites.” Exasperated, I e-mailed an alumnus who worked for the European Union asking if he knew anyone I could speak with. He turned out to be a Greek bearing many gifts: He drove me around Brussels, invited me to his home and office and went out of his way to track down (in French) the few bureaucrats who had not migrated south for the month.
To the alums who made my Princeton experience so memorable: Thank you. It’s not just the buildings and the Annual Giving. It’s the personal support, the mentorship and the sense of community.
So what is a penniless recent graduate supposed to do? Well, my financial contributions will probably be small, though symbolically important. But I can endeavor to make the personal impact that alums have made on me on future generations of students. I can help those who seek my advice and try to see and support any student groups that come my way, and I can try to let students know of any cool opportunities I come across. And maybe I’ll even be a good representative for the school by signing up to interview applicants.
Oh and by the way, I’m moving to Philly in a month. I really don’t know anyone there. Alums, if you have any good advice, you know where to reach me.
Ken Schwartz is a Wilson School major from Syosset, NY. He is the editorial board chair emeritus. He can be reached at kjschwar@princeton.edu.
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