It was so great to see and socialize with alumnae over Homecoming weekend. Many of you came to see friends but also received an update (both formally and informally) about the school and the activities of the Alumni Association. Our hope is that the impression you walked way with helped you embrace the understanding of our greatest challenge—celebrating the past, present, and future every time we reach out to the Hopkins nursing community. As your Alumni Board, we try to plan events and communication to reach those who helped shape our present and those who will carry on our future—not an easy challenge, and we appreciate all of you we call on to make it happen. Many of you have been helpful in assisting us with enriching our archives; provided pictures and stories for our book; and facilitated the planning homecoming events. You are connected and want to share in the joy. We are appreciative.
It is apparent to those of us who tend and nurture our organization on a daily basis that this same energy of commitment to the traditions of the past needs to be channeled to connecting with our current students. The school of nursing and the students within have changed dramatically over the past 50 years—many of our students are older and are attracted to nursing as a second career. Technology will continue to put distance between cohorts of nursing students and daily interaction with teachers. Having said that, however, there is something that we all have in common as Hopkins nursing students (past and present)—that is the desire to be a part of making a better healthcare delivery system and to be leaders in the change. Our students today need our alumni now more than ever because they have the same passion for nursing that we all had over the years but have to work harder at connecting with peers as they are less frequently on campus together. I challenge those of you who have the time to share to impact a future Hopkins nurse’s career: Come to East Baltimore and get in touch or contact Melinda Rose ([email protected]) or myself ([email protected]) and find a Hopkins grad in your area whom you can connect with. The students are very receptive to the wisdom of those of us who have made choices in nursing. You will find sharing your experiences rewarding.
