Pen Pal

By Ashlynne Sage

Image in No Foreign Lands Writing Wednesday article by Jamie Chan

Stephens College offers an amazing pen pal program that connects current students with alumni. The program, which started in 2023, matches current students with alumni in similar majors. I have loved this program since its inception. In our digital era, it was nice to take a step back and actually write letters. There was also an email option for those who would rather do the program digitally.  

My pen pal and I are very similar which is really nice. I can learn from her and ask her questions. So far I have learned to work hard and spend time with those you love. We fell off when I studied abroad but I do think we will stay in touch after I graduate this spring. I love having an old-school pen-and-paper hobby and learning from someone who has lived a long, joyous life. 

I was able to reach out to others who have also enjoyed the program, Shannon Jones and Jo Douglas. Shannon said it had been a while since she reached out but says, “she loves getting to know other people and hearing how they live their lives. Plus, it's always delightful to get something in the mail.” She has also been reminded through this program to take advantage of every opportunity and put herself out there as much as possible. She and her pen pal are not very similar but Shannon said, “That's something I appreciate! It helps me gain perspective on situations and get advice that I wouldn't have thought of myself.”

Both Shannon and Jo have not communicated recently with their pen pal due to being crazy swamped with work which is very normal for college students. Jo said, “I really liked the program! It was fun while it lasted, and having the chance to talk to an alumna was awesome.” She believes that her pen pal is similar to her. They are both thoughtful and driven and have similar majors. Jo said she learned that “There's life after college, especially with a writing-centered degree. Sometimes I get nervous about what I'm going to do with creative writing.”

Being a part of this program has been eye-opening for all participants. This is a unique opportunity, not many people get to truly connect with an alum and get one-on-one advice. We may not all stay in contact with them but the time spent writing our pen pal has been valuable. I hope this program stays at Stephens and more students can talk to people who have lived through the daunting transition between college and career life.