You graduated, now what?
You did it! Now that you’ve graduated, let’s celebrate your new alumni status and the perks of being a part of the Ramily.
Benefits
The first thing I think of when it comes to alumni benefits is the discounts! We can all agree, saving money is always a good thing. No matter where you live or what you are interested in, there is something for you. My go-to alumni discount is the 10% off Via Rail trips and 20% off Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada.
Building your network
Will the Ryersonians please stand up? Venturing into the adult world can be scary, but leaning on your alumni network makes it easier. From building your local network to connecting with Ryersonians from across the world, they’ve got you covered. One of my favourite places to meet alumni (at least virtually) is through the Ryerson University Alumni LinkedIn Group. This is a great way to connect with others while learning about professional development and other resources available through the university. (If you’re not already a member yet, be sure to join.)
Want to meet more alumni in person? Come out to an event, or better yet, the next Alumni Weekend. It’s a jam-packed weekend filled with celebrations, speakers, class reunions and activities. I’ve attended the past two Alumni Weekends, and through the connections I made I have started volunteering and expanded my professional network.
Sharing your RU pride
Now that you have joined the Ryerson alumni group, make sure to stay involved through the various social media channels. I love sharing my RU pride through Twitter and Instagram. It’s a great way toshow off what you are doing, share throwbacks or get involved with upcoming events. Speaking of Instagram, there is now an Instagram account just for alumni, which will share inspirational content, aspirational stories and a bit of nostalgia. So, show your support and give them a follow! Another way to share your RU pride is by using a range of hashtags such as repping your class: #RU2019 or being part of the alumni club: #RUAlumni.
Getting involved
There are endless ways that you can get involved — from attending a reception in your area to mentoring a student or by joining the executive team of an alumni group. I recently joined the Ryerson University Alumni Association (RUAA) Digital Content Strategy Committee and I am ecstatic to be getting the opportunity to meet and work with new alumni connections while sharing my expertise and giving back to the Ryerson community.
Kelsey Muir (Early Childhood Studies ’13) is a Communications Officer at Aecom. She is also a member of the Digital Content Committee on the Ryerson University Alumni Association Board of Directors where she shares her expertise in social media and storytelling.
