Life after graduation can take some interesting twists and turns. You might find yourself at a dump in Yellowstone National Park after work, observing—from the safety of your car— the nightly show of bears, wolves and other wildlife that come to dine at what they consider the park’s finest eatery. Or you might be shaking your head over how you ended up performing for President Bill Clinton at the White House when it seems like just yesterday you were playing for tips in Farmville.
These are the kinds of stories listeners can expect from a new weekly podcast series launched last month by the Office of Alumni and Career Services. Dubbed the “Day after Graduation” podcast, the series features unique, compelling stories from the real world as alumni transition from college to career,” said Ryan Catherwood, assistant vice president for alumni and career services. The series focuses on, but is not limited to, experiences from one to three years after graduation.
“It will be candid and brutally honest,” said Paige Rollins ’15, assistant director of live digital events, who co-hosts the podcasts with Catherwood and Brian Rose ’11. “I hope listening to this will trigger a memory. We want people to listen to this and say, ‘Oh, that reminds me of something that happened to me.’”
Catherwood said the podcast series provides an opportunity for alumni to share their experiences and aspirations—stories of adventure, misfortune or success—in the years immediately following graduation. Some of the stories are professional, and some are more entertainment. It’s not biographies— just interesting stories.”
The podcast, which is free, can be accessed from the alumni website (www.longwood.edu/alumni) or career website (www.longwood.edu/career).When you subscribe, it can be automatically downloaded via the Podcasts or iTunes app on Apple devices and through the Stitcher app on an Android.
This is an opportunity for alumni to share their experiences and aspirations—stories of adventure, misfortune or success—in the years immediately following graduation.
Ryan Catherwood, Assistant Vice President for Alumni and Career Service
Episodes typically are 20-30 minutes and feature interviews with two or three people, most of whom are Longwood graduates, though students and friends of the university also are featured.
Other interviewees in the first season, which features 10 episodes and will end the week after commencement, include an alum who did seasonal work for a zipline company in Alaska catering to cruise ships and one who wrecked three cars in the first four months after graduation. Pat McGee, a successful musician who attended Longwood and played for Bill Clinton, is one of several musicians who share what it’s like to be a musician struggling to “make it.”
“We know this is a new medium, but we think our alumni will like this. It’s been challenging but a lot of fun,” said Catherwood, whose interviews have taken him to North Carolina, while Rollins’ interviews have taken her to Washington, D.C., and New York.
The second season is expected to begin in fall 2017. If you have a story to share, either about yourself or someone else, email career@longwood.edu.
Leave a Comment