Every day, I use an orange highlighter to check off my to-do list during work at Swift Kick HQ. It makes me smile to use it because where it came from means so much more than an average highlighter. I can still remember my friend Rachel, at my last club meeting ever, saying
Did you notice?? The highlighter and sharpie in your graduate survival kit are orange!! That’s your favorite color!
She was so excited to tell me that she knew my love for orange and remembered to personalize my senior gift, and that moment made the gift even better. This lone orange highlighter, 3 years later, continues to bridge the gap between my favorite student organization in college and my post-graduate life.
As you say goodbye to your graduating friends, make it a point to show them that they are not leaving the community just because they are leaving the campus.
Here are some great ways to keep them feeling the love:
1. Give a Senior Gift:
The members of the organization who are not graduating should get together to make meaningful gifts for each graduate. Some wonderful ideas I have seen over the years:
– Post grad “survival kits”
– Hand painted photo boxes filled with pictures of their time in college
– An item signed by all the members
– Cards from an under-classmen members
2. Make a video for the last big event:
Create a video to show at the last meeting or event of the year with pictures of the seniors during their great times in the club. Throw in a sentimental statement, videos of their friends saying goodbye, and some tear-jerker music. They will appreciate this greatly.
3. Give them resources to stay in the know:
Make sure they are aware that they should stay in the groups on Facebook, Orgsync, or other platforms so that they receive updates on upcoming events. Always invite them back so that they feel like they are coming home if they come to campus.
4. Organize young alumni mentoring:
Current students and alumni alike will benefit from a mentoring relationship created within your organization. Whether it’s pairing “bigs” and “littles” or just setting up friends with the same career plans, this is a great way for the graduated members to give back to their club or organization. You could also create a lot of fun events around having the graduates come back for panels and other occasions.
5. Include them in informal hangouts outside of campus:
Host reunion dinners so that alumni can connect with the new generation. There is something so fun about introducing a new freshman to one of the “legendary” past members.
What other ways have you kept your student organization, spanning across generations?
