READY FOR TAKEOFF
At the annual Backpack to Briefcase program for Moravian University’s juniors and seniors, alumni come back to campus to give back and help students prepare for the transition from college to professional life. The two-day event includes sessions on everything from LinkedIn to Life Management Skills to the importance of 401K plans. Highlights of this year’s event included mock interviews conducted by alumni, Dan Carusi’s (class of ’89) presentations “Thriving vs. Surviving” and “Ethics and Integrity,” a dinner at which students learned the etiquette of dining during a professional meeting, and a fashion show featuring students modeling business, business casual, and casual workday attire. A good time and lots of learning were had by all.
Here, senior Kristoff Riley shares his perspective as a participant in this year’s Backpack to Briefcase.
Time to Believe
By Kristoff Riley ‘16
Second semester of senior year and a full-time job already secured after graduation, I had nothing to worry about, right? I entered the Backpack to Briefcase program worried that I wasn't ready for the professional world. But this program reminded and all the students who participated that the Moravian University experience has prepared us for the next challenge life has in store.
How often do we forget that we are a part of a vast network replete with alumni eager to give back? It was evident at Backpack to Briefcase by the copious post-matriculated Greyhounds ready to offer life and career advice. One of the most profound moments of the weekend was Dan Carusi ‘89, standing before the collective group of students during his Ethics and Integrity presentation and reliving some of the most difficult moments of his career. I was in sheer admiration of the boldness with which he spoke about the mistake he made in the past to have us realize that, “we are not as good as we think.” A professional setting will bring about new challenges that will require reacting in the most ethical manner, until then, the strength of our moral aptitude is debatable.
Dan Carusi also left students with another important note: “Reputation is King.” That single phrase is the foundation upon which ethics and integrity are built, because everything we do in our professional lives will affect how we are perceived by our colleagues.
“It’s not how you fall; it’s how you move on.” That sentiment appears quite intuitive, but coming from alumnus Jim McAdoo, my mock interviewer, it was the best advice I received all weekend. Failures can be crippling, and there are bound to be a plethora of stumbles in my professional career that I will need to overcome.
401Ks are actually really cool. The most common advice I’ve heard is to take advantage of them as soon as possible, but with careers beginning, retirement is the last thing any recent college graduate wants to think about. Those of us who were lucky to see alumnus Joe Connel, during his Financial Resources presentation, model a 401K calculation were inspired to start saving. This session was my favorite, and I, along with other students, agreed that this should actually be a class taught on campus.
The most surprising aspect of Back to Briefcase was the career paths chosen by those on the Young Alumni Panel. For a few, their current career is not what they had in mind for themselves, nor is it directly related to their majors. I cannot imagine myself doing anything other than accounting, but I take comfort in knowing that there are those who have succeeded when, to quote McAdoo, “plan B becomes plan A.”
Backpack to Briefcase is the single most important program for a senior to participate in. It is an opportunity not only to learn about the expectations of the real-world but to define your professional persona. The transition from college life to a professional life now seems less daunting. I owe this feeling to the wonderful alumni and the Center for Career and Civic Engagement.