Top 5 Ways to Stay Connected to Concordia College
As a recent grad of Concordia (if you can still count 2014 as recent), I remember how scary it was to leave this place and worry about how I could keep these friends without having Maize fries to bond over. But, as someone who has been done for two years now, I can safely say that keeping connected to my Cobber family isn’t as hard as it seemed.
Here are the top five best ways to keep living the Cobber dream.
1. Come back for Homecoming.
Homecoming is the most magical time of the year. Hundreds of alums come back to celebrate their reunions, catch up with old friends, cheer on sports teams and music ensembles, and to relive what it’s like to be in college again. (But who says you have to wait until it’s your reunion to come back? Grab some friends and make the trek back to campus for the weekend!) Some classes even put together gatherings on their off-reunion years, and Saturday night at Mick's is one for the books. Homecoming doesn’t stop when you’re no longer a student, so keep the magic alive and make your way back this October.
2. Attend events in your area.
Cobber alumni are everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE. And you can bet there are events all over the country to keep Cobbers connected, even if it’s not on campus. From service projects in the Twin Cities to happy hours in Denver and corn feeds in Portland, there are plenty of events for Cobbers of all ages to connect, build friendships, and remember the good ol’ days. Keep your eyes open for opportunities in your area and make the most of the alumni network as possible.
3. Become a mentor.
We’ve all been there: looking for a job and wishing there was someone there to help you prepare for the interview or figure out what to do with your degree. Wouldn’t it be nice to turn around and help a current student through these same difficulties? Being a mentor for students can be anything you want it to be – from letting them shadow you at work to having monthly coffee dates and talking about life. This way, you get to remember what it’s like to be a student again and help them see what it’s like to be out in the real world.
4. #cordmn 4ever
Social media is the easiest and fastest way to stay connected with what’s going on in Cobberville. Whether you prefer Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, you can always find out what’s happening with the click of a button. Plus, P. Craft has his own Twitter account. Who wouldn’t want to see what the president is up to? Don’t forget to use #cordmn on the reg. – it’s pretty neat to see all of the fun and exciting things in the life of Cobbers.
5. Wear your Cobber gear in public. It’s not corny.
Let’s face it – most Cobbers graduate with at least 10 Concordia T-shirts, a couple sweatshirts, a water bottle, Silly Bandz, mittens and a lanyard. Don’t let those things go to waste. You never know what Cobbers you might run into walking through Boston or on a plane to Norway. The amount of random Cobbers I’ve met simply from an article of clothing is astronomical and really shows how expansive the Concordia network is.
Coming to Concordia as a student was one of the best decisions I ever made. I have the best friends, memories and experiences a guy could ask for, and I want to make sure I hold on to those throughout my life. If you’re looking for ways to stay involved and keep connected, you can always give the Alumni Office a call – it’s their job to keep you connected and they’re there to help. The world of being a Cobber alum can be scary, but it’s incredibly fun and rewarding. Make the most of it – you won’t regret it.
Guest blog post by Matt Dymoke ’14
Published June 2016