Last Friday, Oberlin hosted Senior Launch Party in combination with Alumni Ascent to celebrate seniors’ accomplishments while simultaneously connecting them with campus resources. The event was part of the Senior Launch Program, a year-long series of events which aims to provide graduating students with all of the necessary resources for a successful transition out of Oberlin. This is the first year that Oberlin has hosted a Senior Launch party.
According to Walker Blue Miller, assistant director of Alumni Engagement, a variety of campus offices were represented at the Alumni Ascent section of the party, each helping seniors prepare for graduation in different ways. The Registrar’s office helped students with bookkeeping and technical aspects of graduation, the Multicultural Resource Commons and the Admissions office advertised job openings in their departments for students, while the Center for Career Exploration and Development provided students with graduate school and career preparation advice.
Miller was pleased with the turnout and engagement from the event.
“The goal was to provide resources to soon-to-be graduating students that would help propel them into the alumni lifestyle their first year as an alumni,” Miller said. “I think that all the people that came through the fair actually engaged with our tables and got some value from it.”
Samantha Rohner, assistant director for Career Readiness at Career Exploration and Development and a primary organizer of the Senior Launch Program, was also pleased with the turnout at the event. She mentioned that, in her mind, the goal was to both connect students to resources and also to connect students with one another.
“I saw a lot of seniors engaging … with coaches and staff members that were present, talking about resources and what they’re doing in the future, but also just having fun with each other and providing that type of atmosphere that is not so heavily focused on resources,” Rohner said. “Yes, there’s staff to support you and help you in those next steps, but fourth-years: also rely on your fellow classmates. Keep those connections really tight and just check in with each other because you never know when you’re going to be with Obies again.”
College fourth-year Alex Gray agreed that having the party bring seniors together in a career context allowed him to connect with his friends in a different way.
“If you wanted information, you could get it, but it was also a time just for seniors to talk to each other about what they wanted to do,” Gray said. “Talking about career stuff with your friends can be kind of awkward or kind of ruin the vibe sometimes, but when you’re at an event that’s about that, you’re able to outlet your anxieties about your careers with your friends.”
In addition to connecting students with each other and providing resources, Rohner also mentioned the importance of providing seniors a space to celebrate their achievements and ease their anxieties about graduating.
“There’s obviously a lot going on in April and May for students, so while I think it’s important to have all of these resources available, we also need to take the time to say, ‘you’ve done a lot in your time here at Oberlin; your future is very bright, but it’s okay to kind of stop for a minute and kind of celebrate that while also thinking about what those next steps might be.’” Rohner said. “I think it’s important to provide that fun atmosphere while also saying we’re here to celebrate you.”
Gray agreed with Rohner that the energy of the event may have been even more important than the tangible resources.
“It almost felt like a precursor to graduation in a sense where everything’s coming to a close,” Gray said. “Even though it was mostly just a party with food and drinks, it gave a sense of celebration especially around a topic that is very stressful.”
In addition, Gray mentioned that he spoke with someone from the CED who reassured him that, although he’s still applying for jobs, there are still many opportunities for him. He noted that this kind of event allowed him to engage with staff members in a way that he otherwise might not have.
“Career events can be kind of intimidating because they’re so individually focused, so you feel like you almost have to present yourself,” Gray said. “But when it’s a bigger event, and you’re with people that you know and are comfortable with, it makes it more fun and also more engaging. You’re less on your own.”
Miller emphasized that despite all of the transitional challenges seniors are facing, the Alumni Office and the other offices at Oberlin are always available to help students even after graduation.
“We want to help you help yourself: especially young alumni, who are the first ten years out of graduating, it’s all about what we can provide to you to help you be a successful Obie and make us look good out in the real world,” Miller said.
Rohner echoed the sentiment.
“This is a really busy and difficult time for seniors, and it can seem really scary to kind of take that next step or not know exactly what that next step will look like, but just to keep in mind that no matter where you are in that process, there’s staff to support you and help you in those next steps,” Rohner said.
The next Senior Launch event is the Regional Lunch, where students can connect with other Obies and alumni who will be living in similar areas as students post-graduation. The event will occur May 2 at 12:30 p.m. in Moffett Auditorium, and pre-registration is required via Handshake.
