Class of 2020 —
So, what do we do now? It’s understandable if you’re still finding your footing as we continue through a very different April than the one we expected. We hope this letter reminds you that even though we’re apart and even though we can’t walk across our beautiful campus, we are not alone. We’re still in this together. And it’s okay if those words feel a bit hollow right now.
To attempt to answer the, “So, what do we do now?” question, we invite you to lean into the UP network. One significant benefit of choosing the University of Portland is the army of people who are eager and able to help you, as long as you’re willing to be helped. Ask your favorite professor for advice, reach out to the Alumni Office, reach out to ASUP, and most importantly, leverage the extensive UP network by reaching out to fellow Pilots on UP Switchboard.
What’s Switchboard? Switchboard is a community platform built for exactly this type of situation — asking for what you need from the UP community and offering your gifts and talents to those who need it most.
Graduate School? Travel? Managing a Budget? Moving to a new city? Finding a job? Understanding benefits at a new job? Is it okay to take a gap year? Wanting a connection to a specific industry or specific company? UP Switchboard can help answer these questions.
Click here to get acquainted with the platform.
Be specific. Be honest. Ask for what you need. And know that Pilots will respond — that’s what the UP community is all about.
Nick Owen is the ASUP President. He can be reached at owenn20@up.edu. Craig Swinyard is a UP alumnus (‘98) and the Director of Alumni Relations. He can be reached at swinyard@up.edu.
