Please tell us why you enjoyed Reunion:

Everyone mentioned how much they enjoyed seeing old friends, and also making new friends with women they did not know during their college years.  Nearly everyone mentioned the beauty of the campus, and the excellence of the facilities, both old and new.  Most mentioned the special reunion events – faculty lectures, featured speakers, panel discussions, dance party -- and how these stimulated them intellectually and even emotionally.

Here are few excerpts (for the complete results, click here):

I enjoyed every minute...being with old and new friends, walking around the spectacular campus, and being inspired by the energy and experiences of the sea of Wellesley women.

I loved getting to see old friends, some I had not seen for these past 25 years...    being back on campus, staying in the dorms …      sharing our breakfast dining hall with the 50th reunion class was for me very cool.  Being back at Wellesley really reminded me of just how special a college/place it is and how incredibly fortunate I am to have had such an experience.... the incredible amount of sheer intelligence and vitality!!!   all of these things created a weekend that I shall never forget, and hopefully, I will never miss  another reunion ( this was my first).

I have been fortunate to attend most of our class reunions and have enjoyed the experience immensely.  Reconnecting with dear friends and making new ones is a highlight.  I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to share candid reflections about my life (both the great and the gritty!).  I share with many a profound sense of renewal following each reunion.

It was nice to be 19 again for a weekend.

Opportunity to catch up with old friends, as well as meet some new ones (or rather ones we didn't remember as well!).  Loved hearing Madeleine Albright, and the various topical sessions were great, as always.

being surrounded by people who are thinking about things that MATTER and how to make them better....   

Something about being almost 47 erases all the old social stigmas. They don't matter so much--we've all been through many things since those post-high school years.

Feeling reconnected to a place that gave me strength then and still does. Dancing!!!!! Talking!!!!!! Feeling the class come together, especially when they spontaneously decided to make a donation in memory of our deceased classmates. Realizing that I'm not alone in trying to figure out what's next in these late middle aged years.

Even my 15-year-old daughter had fun.

I thought the Class Meeting was well led (congrats to all involved) and really enjoyed the panel discussion (transitions)...wish there had been even more! Was glad to get a refund on the Class Book, and was also pleased that the red beads were not very expensive..

The large number of women who attended from our class was wonderful and inspiring.  The stories that everyone had to share and the willingness to share them..I don't remember a reunion where I felt so connected to people before.  The unbelievable variety of experiences, interests, highs, lows, etc.  was incREDible.  And lastly, the energy level and sheer party spirit that just seemed to spontaneously combust whenever 3 or more people from the class came together as a group.  I am pretty sure we were the rowdiest class in the parade...and everyone seemed to love it.

I loved being reconnected with the mission of Wellesley which helped me not only to feel good about having attended the college, but caused me to reflect deeply on the impact of my Wellesley education on the development of who I am as a person and as an educator, myself. And I loved sharing it all with my daughter and husband.

It was family outing as I had three children with me. The campus was beautiful: we went to a lecture (art history), the library book arts room to work on a printing press, went to the greenhouses (AWESOME for parents and kids), walk through the arboretum, spent time in the Wang center, the kids swam in the pool.   

Learning about the Albright Institute and hearing Madeline's take on foreign policy issues of today  - Dancing on Saturday night!

Our party Saturday night was the best! Which was obvious since it was crashed by so many other classes, which I really didn't mind, but would have preferred if we had stuck to the original earlier ending time (I know I could have left early, but some of the good songs hadn't been played yet - in favor of some of the other class's song requests - and I understand those who did leave early could hear us in Severance anyways).    The food and drink were lovely - obviously high-quality - someone clearly put a lot of thought, time and effort into that and I appreciate that. (The whoopie pies Friday night were delicious!)

Realizing that I come from a group of truly extraordinary, and simultaneously, quite "normal" class, who have struggled, achieved, and lived very diverse lives.  This inspired me to continue on with renewed efforts to make my life more worthwhile to the planet, and to realize that, despite my personal obstacles, I am truly capable of more than I am doing right now.  The reunion helped me regain confidence in my abilities as part of our class.

Fairly good turnout.  Relaxed format.  The party Saturday night everybody let loose and could be themselves.  As a 47 year old, it's hard to have a nearly all girl party like that, and it was terrific.    My 9 year old daughter really loved participating.  We canoed together twice; she swam in the lake.  We talked a lot about what college is like.  That was very special to share Wellesley with her.

Particularly enjoyed dancing to all the 80s music Saturday night and seeing the alumna from the class of 29 in the parade.

I love spending time on the campus without the pressure of being a student.

Imagine you are speaking to an old friend from Wellesley who offers what YOU consider to be a poor excuse for not attending reunion.  What would you tell her about your Reunion experience to persuade her to attend next time?

A common theme among the responses was that reunion was rejuvenating and sustaining, both emotionally and intellectually.  Women often explained that at this time in our lives, we are beyond comparing ourselves and are much more interested in simply sharing stories and making new friends.  Women at reunion are NOT all "successful" or even happy, but everyone is interesting, and interested in learning about each other. Nearly everyone said that reunion was, quite simply, GREAT FUN! 

Here are few excerpts (for the complete results, click here):  

Forget your preconceived expectations -- you will be surprised at how welcoming the campus, the alumnae, the student helpers, and especially our classmates are!!!

Everyone feels inadequate in some way.  Those that don't have kids wished they had a family.  Those with families wished they had careers.  And those with both feel like they are not doing justice to either.  Reunions are about feeling whole and realizing that no one has it all.

Going to reunion helps you realize you are not alone in anything you may be going through or have gone through, from unwanted job changes to personal life crises. The specific situations may not be the same, but the feelings are, and just maybe, someone will say something that will help you through yours.    Campus is beautiful--very restorative.    Listening to panel discussions, M. Albright.... It's great to THINK and to have your thoughts provoked.    Can't wait until the 30th!

Don't be scared of going. Be scared of NOT going. You're missing so much! As one classmate said, "Claim this place as yours!"

Just do it!!!   I did worry a bit about "not measuring up" or, not fitting in as I felt I did not fit in while I was there!   I was surprised to find such kinship and lack of ego/crap... I guess many of us have really grown up and out of some of the roles we had then ( myself included).   You might be very pleasantly surprised by how nice it is to be around such a vast crowd of incredible women again!!!!    no one is measuring you up, or down, and no one cares about what ever failures you may feel - in fact they are eager to help point out your successes and things that make you unique!  I found reunion to be so open and friendly, everyone so eager to just have a good time and laugh, to rekindle old friendships and also start new ones...    there was not enough time, really, and the weekend is over before you know it!  Seeing and being around other alums from other classes was also a high point and very unexpectedly so!  You will leave reunion feeling once again so grateful to have gone to such a wonderful college!!!   and they do not press anyone to give back to the college.... it is not a giant fundraising appeal!!!  

No one was nagging me to donate.

The people who attended were much more down to earth than you might expect, given how wound up some of us were as undergrads.  But 25 years of life makes a big difference!

Reunion gives everyone a chance to make new connections, not just renew old ones.  I would also say that Wellesley belongs to all of us who attended, regardless of whether we give money, or what choices we have made in living our lives.  And finally, the beauty of the campus is still so overwhelming, that it is worth it to come back just to experience that once again!

One of my friends who has also dropped off the career track commented about how there was no bragging.  Everyone respected and appreciated the decisions and choices we have all made.  We truly embodied the real meaning of the women's movement and what we learned at Wellesley.  We all have the ability to make choices about our lives and we use our Wellesley education and other life experiences to make our contributions in whatever way we can.    I have a friend who each year comes to reunion only because I drag her there.  Without fail, each year she is more into it than I am -- finds new connections and is glad she came.

Just come--no one judges.

None of my college friends went, but I immediately met some previously unknown classmates to hang out with over the weekend.  Nobody (and I mean nobody) cares whether you think you're successful or not, because they'll think you're fine -- you're bound to meet classmates who just got dumped, cheated on, divorced, laid off, just got a shattering diagnosis.  And those are the "successful" ones!  No matter what, you'll fit in much better than you think you did in college.  And when else in your life are you ever in a room with 50 intelligent women the same age as you?

I was struck by how honest and open people were about their career and family highs and lows. It was refreshing and I left reunion feeling extremely proud and motivated (this reunion exceeded expectations, for me.

No matter where you are in your life's journey, you will find classmates and other alums with whom you share something in common.  My experience has been that reunion is a wonderful time for connecting and reconnecting, sharing and celebrating, not about judging.

It's a chance to just celebrate the diversity of women and paths that come through Wellesley; there was absolutely no pressure about giving; it was so fun to be back on campus again; really fun to see old classmates I had forgotten about; by the 25th reunion, everyone's had their highs and lows, fast tracks and off tracks -- a lot of us seem to be re-assessing what we want and who we are, and what we want to do with the next half of our lives, so it's as much about what is to be as what has been.  Rather than being a judgmental atmosphere, it's incredibly supportive.

Reunion provides a means for gaining self-awareness, to catch glimpses of myself as others see me, a way to self-gratify in one of the prettiest places on earth.  Attending reunion is thrilling because the collective intelligence and drive of my classmates exude an energy that's palpable.        And it's fun. 

We are an incredibly diverse group of women and I guarantee you will connect with someone who has similar experiences to yours.

By our age, everyone is over the latest and greatest achievements.  We've all had significant bumps along the road, and life has taken many unexpected turns.  It's wonderful to share these experiences.

No one is the perfect Wellesley woman.  We have all had to compromise with our dreams, and finding out who each of us has become is the most inspiring part of the process.  One of the amazing aspects of reunion is hearing what people thought of me 25 years ago, and all the positive feedback I received on who I was then and now.  I had the same feedback for many of my friends/acquaintances, and that interaction was extremely positive for my ego - we can all use some of that boosting!

The point is not to compete -- the point is to connect. I find someone new or something new at every reunion. And, quoting the speaker at the Alumnae Association Business Meeting, I am part of the largest and most effective women's network in the world. That fact alone is worth taking the time out to attend some part of reunion.

I was worried about coming because a lot in my life has not gone well -but honestly it didn't matter.  I had so much fun and spent a lot of time talking with people I hadn't even seen since college.  Everyone seemed very relaxed about life - I guess we've all had a lot happen to us since graduation so we're a little wiser now.  I wouldn't miss the next one for anything.

Wellesley welcomes every alumna with open arms -- every woman at reunion has her own special story filled with twists and turns of every kind. How often do you get the chance to be surrounded by sisterhood?

Reunion is emotionally evocative - sometimes of good and bad - but it gives you a better perspective on what those four years meant and how they formed you.  There is a sense of "closure" and better appreciation that can be achieved by returning. 

Of course Wellesley trained us to expect the highest accomplishments, but you don't need to have achieved any of those things to feel comfortable going to reunion.  In fact, the most important thing I accomplished since graduating was that I stopped drinking in 1986. How does that compare with the accomplishments of Madame Chiang Kai Shek, Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton, Cokie Roberts, Diane Sawyer, Ali MacGraw, and the like? I am an alum just like they are, and I have just as much right to claim Wellesley as my college.   

I was really glad that a classmate started a financial aid pool for people who had trouble affording to travel to reunion.

People who came to reunion were in all different places in life. … Some of us are not in a place where we can give lots of money to Wellesley (or any at all) but I did not feel heavy pressure to give and I think there is sufficient maturity and understanding that where you make your charitable contributions is personal.  I know there are some who didn't come because they were embarrassed that they had put on weight.  While it is true that some people had aged very well, there were plenty who were not going to let this issue keep them from having fun.    It is wonderful to reconnect with old friends, powerful to walk the campus again, and it is nice to take the time to reflect on life with former classmates.  I also enjoyed meeting new people and hearing their life stories.

In past reunions it is true that we talked a lot about how many kids we had or what marriage we made or our great jobs. Now, in our mid-40's, we seem to have become more supportive of one another, less prone to make assumptions or judge, more open to alternative paths. I would tell my classmate that we need her -- that her input is just as valuable as anyone else's, and our story is incomplete without her. It seems we have matured to the point where our narrative is no longer like a Christmas card list of accomplishments but instead is a far more textured and interesting story. This time, at our class panels several classmates confessed to having made poor choices in marriage, and some had divorced; one said she was single but "not by choice"; one said she regretted not having children, and several talked of children with special needs; some said they had lost jobs in the economic crisis. We are talking honestly. As we change, we find new resources in one another for helping us process our life experiences, regardless of what those might be.

I never had kids either.  I'm not famous, or wealthy, nor do I have a high-achieving career.  But I had fun anyway.  Once I decided it wasn't important to me to be validated by the kind of woman who is a class officer or an alumnae association VIP, I had a perfectly good time basking in the companionship of other smart women.  Those swanky folks who didn't notice me back in college still don't notice me -- but I no longer care.  It was a shame that the other classmates to whom I was particularly close decided not to come this year, since I was looking forward to sitting up too late with a mug of tea and catching up.    Sure, there's part of me who thinks that in order to go to reunion I ought to have been pretty and thin and rich -- but I wasn't any of those things when I was an undergraduate either.      I liked seeing all the improvements that have been made to the campus …  I visited the art museum for the first time ever.  Savoring the campus was definitely the high point of the trip for me.

I would tell her about a discussion a number of us had on Sunday afternoon as we were all beginning to think about heading home. Some of those at our table had not planned on attending Reunion, but were persuaded by other classmates to come. All of those who were on the fence about attending spoke unequivocally about how glad they were to have attended. How, despite tough times (some had lost jobs, husbands, didn't feel particularly successful this year, weren't able to contribute to the College as they might have wished) they felt bolstered by being among their classmates - women of the same generation - some of whom were going through many of the same experiences and who understood and were glad to be supportive. I believe that many left that discussion Sunday afternoon with a renewed sense of self-worth.

It was important for me to recharge the Wellesley part of myself and reaffirm all the things I consider important.  Reunion does that for you.

Claim your College!!     There is room for all experiences positive and negative from your college days    Attend the panel discussions about real issues that we are concerned with now-transitions, aging parents, special needs children, job loss, health issues, economic downsizing    No one is judging you!!

Just go.  It's fun.