I still hang around most of my alumni group chats because quite frankly I enjoy the feelings of nostalgia I get when we have our discussions, especially when it comes to throwbacks and our experiences. I hardly say much but from time to time I do read the chats dropped and on rare occasions make contributions.
In one of my school alumni groups yesterday, I stumbled into a conversation on how much of our current experiences have been shaped by our time in college. Of course our little group is yet to produce any insanely successful individual, but the vast majority seem to be doing well in their various career paths.
For most of us, the system did shape us but not in the way one might expect. Lectures were really fast paced and we really had to work hard in the sense by studying thoroughly once we covered a topic. While the actual materials we were studying didn't do much to make us ready for life after graduation, coping with excess stress no doubt was a big bonus.
There are those who for some reason have no interest in being part of such groups after graduation. While I doubt I'd ever be close to those who weren't in my circle of friends in school from such groups, it is always nice having such throwbacks and reflecting on a time when we had so many dreams.