Nothing compares to the excitement of becoming a fresh exchange student or participant in an exchange program. The future looks bright, the dreams of visiting breathtaking paces throughout the US, such as the Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls, for example, and meeting amazing people in amazing cities such as New York, Washington DC or San Francisco make the expectations rise even higher. Coming back home and becoming successful alumni, however, does not always sound as promising and invigorating, but make no mistake – your post-return experience may become no less rewarding. It’s up to you, Dear Alumni, to activate all your energy and explore all your resources in order to exclaim: “I am proud to be alumni”.

When I first came back to Moldova after being a MUSKIE at the University of Mississippi, in the summer of 2008, I had enough enthusiasm and willpower to move mountains, but very limited resources. This is when I decided to actively join the US alumni in Moldova community and share my experience with my colleagues, students, partners, local NGOs, etc. This is how I learned that being a member of such a diverse, and therefore, rich and resourceful community of professionals is my first step in making the most of my post-US experience. I hope that the “tips” I learned from each event organized with my colleagues alumni will serve you as a valuable guide in climbing your own “US Alumni career ladder”:

1. Keep in touch with other alumni. The most challenging aspect of being an alumnus in Moldova is having a greater impact not simply in your own community: your working place, your university or your social network, but on a larger scale. If you are a MUSKIE or a FLEX, your perspective shouldn’t be  limited to your program – get in touch with alumni from other programs as well, invite them to common events, ask them about the projects they are involved in and if they need any help: read how US alumni celebrated the Global Youth Day in Moldova. Being initially initiated by a FLEX alumnus, the event ended up joining FLEX, UGRAD and even MUSKIE alumni, as well as on alumni, in a much larger event, with a much valuable impact.
2. Read our US Alumni website on a regular basis and send us your success stories! Yes, I mean on a regular basis! The website is constantly updated with other alumni success stories, job opportunities, funding opportunities, interviews, professional development seminars and trainings, conferences, events, etc. and you can definitely become one of its editors! This excellent online portfolio of our community will help you learn about all the important events in the community, keep in touch with your colleagues and get ideas for new projects.
3. Use modern technologies to connect with US Alumni from other countries! On the 18th of March The US Alumni Board organized a unique event which aimed to connect two countries via web conferencing: Moldova and Uzbekistan – we learned so much from our Uzbek colleagues! The conference gave us a lot of ideas on how to organize and conduct various projects in our country. Facebook and Skype can also become your valuable tools in enriching your alumni collaborative experience. By simply posting a short update on your profile, you connect with thousands of other alumni around the world.
4. Involve local NGOs and Governmental organizations. Our main responsibility as alumni is to initiate change and assist non-alumni in their struggle to make our countries better at all levels: economically, socially and academically. Unless we partner with local NGOs and governmental organizations, our experience is going to lose its significance – so my advice is: CONNECT to SHARE! Despite the fact that not all non-alumni are eager to listen to us, with patience and dedication we can make great partners. Making the first step is so challenging, but so rewarding in the end!
5. Give back! Even if you spent only two weeks in US, like Open World alumni, even if you are only UGRAD alumni with no previous working experience, you are already privileged to have experienced much more than most of the non-alumni had ever had. Start with a small initiative: talk to your boss or professor, apply to a small alumni grant, ask your colleagues if they need help, and most importantly, ask the alumni community for help – this is what being an US alumnus is all about. It is a great privilege and responsibility, so take full advantage of it and you will be proudly able to say that you made a difference, that your country has become a better place to live and work because of you.

Daniela Munca, PhD

MUSKIE 2006-2008

President of the US Alumni Board 2009-2010