Alumni Association to host Real Life 101: Life After College Seminar

The ECU Alumni Association will host Real Life 101: Life After College Seminar, April 9 in 1026 of the Bate Building from 6-8 p.m.

Speakers will offer advice on salary negotiation, resume building, insurance options, buying a first home and planning for retirement.

"Life definitely changes once you graduate and get into the real world," said Kendra Alexander, assistant director of alumni programs.

Some students feel that the transition to life after college will not pose a big challenge.

"I wouldn't imagine life after graduation would be too different than life at school. Priorities just change from school to trying to find and maintain a career," said Mark Preslar, sophomore German major.

A speaker from the ECU Career Center, Jim McAtee, will lead the Salary Negotiating and Resume Building classes.

"He will talk about building a resume, how to negotiate a salary that you deserve and how to present yourself in the best way that you can," Alexander said.

Catherine Creech of Duffus Realty and Mary Vincent of Countrywide will speak at the Buying Your First Home class. The class will focus on how graduates can afford buying a house after graduation.

Representatives from Liberty Mutual will speak at the Insurance 101 class. This will focus on the choices that graduates must make when selecting and purchasing insurance plans.

David Damm of Carolina Wealth Management will speak at the Planning for Your Retirement class, touching on planning early so graduates can retire when they feel ready. "The sooner you can put money away, the sooner you can retire," Alexander said.

Most students haven't started to think long term about their life after college.

"The only thing I have really done is start thinking of summer jobs or internships dealing with my field. Hopefully I'll know what I want to do internship-wise next year or next summer," said Leanna Grondy, sophomore psychology major.

The seminar's primary targets are upcoming graduates and recent graduates, but anyone who is interested is welcome, according to Alexander.

Graduates who wish to join the ECU Alumni Association can do so for a $35 membership fee.

"Wherever you move across the country, we most likely have an alumni chapter within that state," Alexander said.

The East Carolina Alumni Association keeps ECU alumni informed about ECU events and what other alumni are doing, as well as getting alumni involved with service projects, such as watching ballgames, Alexander said.

Each session will last one hour and the speakers will give two presentations, so attendees can choose to listen to two different lectures or stay in one session for both hours.

Those interested may register for the free event on piratealumni.com or by calling 252-328-6072. Registration is not required but is encouraged.

This writer may be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.