The first day of the rest of your life

Everyone remembers the first day of college. Moving into the dorms. Meeting your roommate. Figuring out where to go and who to hang out with. Then, spending that first night with that strange feeling of freedom and uncertainty, knowing this was a milestone that would set the direction for the rest of your life.

How much has Lehigh changed you? I hear stories practically every day from Lehigh alumni about the ways your experiences on South Mountain brought you to where you are today. It could be the influence of a professor, the helping hand of another alum, or the challenge of a particular class or program that prepared you to make your way in the world. It could be meeting your best friends, or even your spouse.

The Alumni Association is proud to be part of that transformation. We start with the First-Year Rally (postponed due to Irene until Sept. 23, so watch for your invitation to join us during Homecoming Weekend), where we welcome the newest members of the Lehigh family and introduce them to their adoptive class, who follows them on their Lehigh journey. And we end with … well … actually, your Lehigh experience doesn’t end.

Whether you graduated last year or decades ago, you remain an important part of the Lehigh family, and the Alumni Association helps make sure you’re connected. In September, we’ll be bringing you events (see our full calendar) like a tailgate in honor of the 40th anniversary of undergraduate women at Lehigh (Sept. 10), the Wall Street Council Financial Services Forum (Sept. 17), and Homecoming and the Young Alumni Reunion on campus (Sept. 24). Our Marching 97 affinity group kicks off soon, giving members another way to reconnect with their Lehigh roots.

If you’re not on campus, look for club events around the country, or join us for a game near you (for example, the soccer team takes on UCLA Berkeley Sept. 9 and Stanford Sept. 11). Don’t forget, Alumni Career Solutions are available to you year-round (in person and online), whether you’re looking for a new job or just brushing up your professional skills.

So the next time you wax nostalgic about your days on South Mountain, remember that your Lehigh days are far from over.

In fact, there are many more yet to come!

Robert W. Wolfenden
Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations

August 2011