Backpack to Briefcase' connects alumni, students

More than 70 alumni returned to campus Wednesday night to share their experiences with seniors and prepare them for life after academia.

The event, called "From Backpack to Briefcase," does not "guarantee a job, but wisdom and learning about what life is like after college," Director of Alumni Relations Tim Brooks said.

The program included an informal reception and a question and answer session to address lifestyle transitions and personal finances after seniors graduate in May.

Many alumni have "a great deal of affection and loyalty for Tufts," Brooks said. They remember that "alumni helped them when they were students." The Alumni Office works closely with Career Services to establish contacts for graduates.

The future life prospects are uncertain for many of the attending students. Senior Victoria Tran's "tentative" plans are to work as an emergency medical technician for at least a year before deciding whether to pursue medical school.

Brooks noted that the average college graduate holds eight different jobs before retirement.

Despite the job-seeking challenges graduates face, Brooks retains a positive outlook for graduating seniors. Seniors "walk out the door with a Tufts degree -- it looks prestigious on the resum‚," he said. "People know it's a great education."

Jason Potts (LA '00), who now works as an analyst for State Corp. in Boston, agreed. "Tufts was excellent preparation for my job and life in general -- academically and pre-professionally," he said.

"Students are way more prepared [than in past years]," Senior Alumni Relations Officer Jonathan Burton said. "They're asking the right questions early."

The event showcased the variety of fields Tufts alumni have entered, including jobs in business and finance, medical research, social services, education, and the non-profit sector.

Michelle Yanetti (LA '97) admitted that life after college was "a little scary." She worked in a hospital, a biotechnology company, and she is now completing her M.B.A. at Babson College. "The market's gotten a lot better," she told current seniors.

"Some of it is the luck of the draw," Yanetti said. "Even if you have the qualifications, [it is more a question of] whether your values and ideas fit with the company."

Amy Dumphy (LA '03) works for a non-profit in Cambridge called Women in Politics, that "helps women to get involved at the local, state, and national levels," she said. The organization also holds fundraisers for women's' political campaigns. Dumphy minored in political science and was excited that her job enabled her to explore that interest.

Senior child development major Lisa Fishlin was pleased to see Dumphy's success at finding an interesting and rewarding job. "It was definitely helpful, I hadn't really been exposed to many alumni who had similar interests and activities at Tufts," Fishlin said.

The alumni who attended appreciated the opportunity to give current students advice. "[This is] a great experience," Potts said. "Coming back is one way to give back, and help seniors to have as good an experience as I did."

This is the first of several events where seniors have an opportunity to make contacts with alumni. There is also an online message board and forum for students and alumni to network.