“
I am amazed at how caring Exonians are for one
another. It doesn’t matter what year you graduated, or
where you went to college afterwards . . . we are all part
of the same, big, supportive family.
About two years ago, I met my mentor Joyce, who
graduated from Exeter in the 1980s. We went to the
same college, and we were connected through a mutual
acquaintance in our college alumni association who
noted that both Joyce and I have expressed more
loyalty to Exeter than our college. Joyce and I laugh at
this observation often, because it’s so true. We both
appreciated college, but Exeter is more home for us
than college ever will be.
When I was starting my job search, Joyce invited me
to her office to talk about career paths. I left our first
meeting absolutely floored that this established finance
professional was so eager and willing to help me. She
offered to introduce me to her colleagues and even put
me in touch with some of her connections outside the
finance world. My parents live in Asia, so Joyce has
taken it upon herself to become a real presence in my
life, always checking in, inviting me to dinner, taking
me to events. . . she is like my “city mom.”
It sounds so clichéd, but as I get further from my
Exeter years, I believe more and more that Exeter is
not just four years, but for life.”
“
I would be a different person if I had not gone to Exeter. Because of Exeter,
I know how to manage my time, I learned how to learn, I understand how
to be independent and I hold myself responsible for the choices I make.
Everything I learned here made my transition to college easy. Exeter
also made me realize what a quality education can do, and that is what
convinced me to pursue higher education as a career.”
NANDINI MULLAJI, class of ’13,
Georgetown University School of
Foreign Service, vice president of
the school’s consulting club, and
active member in the Designing
the Future(s) of the University
(an all-school initiative exploring
issues facing higher education).
Nandini has collaborated with — and
even started — a nonprofit to bring
education to nomadic tribes in her
home country of India.
JOCELYN BOHN, class of ’11, has made connections with an assortment of alums in and around
New York City as she has pursued a career in
finance. She is currently working in wealth
management for a family office. She met her “city
mom” while conducting admissions tours when
a student at Columbia University.
“
I’ve always been an entrepreneurial person. I started a
pancake business in my dorm at Exeter. I built a reputation
for being into music, too. I started the hip-hop club at
Exeter and was on the board of WPEA, and I played the
clarinet my prep year and then took guitar lessons. When
I was in college I started doing internships in the music
industry. I’m building my career in music, and when it was
time to start a business, it was the Exonians who came
through. No one was as ready and driven as my peers from
Exeter. I love that place.”
JUSTIN HARMOND, class of ’11, part-time teacher
and basketball coach who has launched a New
York-based record label and events company
with two Exonian friends, Xiaowei ’12 and Nic ’12,
all shown here at South by Southwest (SXSW) in
Austin, Texas, announcing the launch of the label.
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