Friday kicks off my alma mater the University of Cincinnati’s annual Homecoming Weekend. While not deemed an official holiday, it ranks pretty high on my list of favorite reasons to celebrate. The weekend centers around a football game hosted Saturday afternoon but doesn’t stop there. A full calendar of events is planned to liven up the festivities. Cocktail receptions, brunches, and tailgates are all part of the weekend’s agenda, planned in hopes of drawing alumni back to show their support.
Homecoming is a special event for me because it gives me reason to head back home each fall to catch up with college friends, sorority sisters, and past professors and advisors. It’s a special way to pay tribute to the people and places that made college the amazing time that it was. For me this annual showdown of school spirit is just one of the many reasons to stay connected to my university.
Recent and seasoned grads can reap many benefits from keeping ties with their home schools. Read on for more reasons to consider staying close to your alma mater.
It was 1992. I was five years old, and we were camping with my dad’s side of the family. All the cousins my age were boys, and I remember overhearing the parents saying “Look at her, she’s the leader” as I marched the five of us in a line through the campsite. At school, I was no different; I took charge of the games for my friends at recess. It wasn’t until fourth grade that I realized “bossy” was not a compliment from my peers. From that moment on, I made a concerted effort to change my ways… to be nicer to everyone and to take a backseat socially. (For the record, that didn’t stop me from aiming high academically nor in student council, but I knew that I would never be the most popular kid.)
“When a girl tries to lead, she is often labeled bossy. Boys are seldom called bossy because a boy taking the role of a boss does not surprise or offend.”
In Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, Sheryl Sandberg dives into issues women face in the workplace as well as issues that younger generations encounter due to long-standing gender roles. Join The Single Diaries‘ first book conversation as I discuss Lean In with my good friend, Huffington Post editor Jacqueline Howard. Pick up a copy and read by November 15th to send in questions: in the comments section of this post, via Twitter tagging @SingleDiariesXO and #SingleGirlLeansIn, or via email leadingladies@toastmeetsjam.com. Sandberg writes “I am also writing this for any man who wants to understand what a woman—a colleague, wife, mother, or daughter—is up against so that he can do his part to build an equal world.” We invite our guy friends to read and join the conversation.
We will post our discussion on November 29th, so don’t forget to come back to continue the conversation. We can’t wait to hear what you think!
xo Catherine