02 | stevenson.edu/admissions
// from admissions
Kayla (Gunn) Keegun
Assistant Director of Admissions
"Keep in touch!"
These three words are the ones uttered and heard most often when someone closes the door to one part of their life and turns the page to a new chapter. I heard them over and over myself when I graduated from Stevenson back in 2012. And on the day that I'd waited so long for, in those joyous moments of celebration— with happy tears, flowers, honor cords, and shouts of congratulation swirling around me—I had every intention of keeping in touch with the people who had helped to shape my path and guide me to this point in my life.
Fast forward two years, and I had not kept in touch with my favorite professors as I'd told myself (and them) I would. Because of this, my fingers hesitated and twitched anxiously over the keyboard as I wracked my head for the best way to start an email to one of my former professors. I was seeking advice about graduate schools and knew that this specific professor had attended a university that I was interested in.
I finally began to type... Don't make this awkward, I told myself.
"Dear Dr." No, too formal. "Hello there!" Too casual."Greetings—" No. I'm not an alien descending upon the human race!
After a few tries, I finally found my groove. I typed out the email asking for professional advice, and at the very end, I said that I would attach a picture of myself so that my professor could put a face to my name. This was two years after graduation, after all, and I didn't expect to be remembered that easily, especially in a profession where students come and go, semester after semester. I didn't even want to try to calculate how many students had passed through her class since I'd graduated. Ironically enough, in my nervousness, I forgot to attach the picture.
Fast forward an hour later, to a warm and welcoming email from my professor chock full of sage and helpful advice. It wasn't just the swiftness of the response and the advice that made me remember how friendly the SU community is, it was these words: "You don't have to attach a picture, Kayla, I remember who you are."
I was speechless and was immediately overcome with memories of how amazing this professor had been. She clearly hadn't changed—or forgotten me.
Fast forward another three years, to me telling this same story during an admissions presentation to a group of prospective students. Now that I work for the Admissions Office, I make it a point to highlight the Stevenson community by using my own experiences as an alumnae and current employee. I always tell prospective students and families that this community, the lifetime connections that you make, and the professors who remember who you are (despite your broken promises to keep in touch) are what makes SU great.