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Elyse Darefsky, Class of 1979

Every fall Clark sponsors Move-In Day—a day where Clark staff and alumni volunteers help new students move into their dorm rooms. Here, four-time volunteer and member of the Clark Alumni Association's Executive Board Elyse Darefsky talks about her experience volunteering for this event.

I see Move-In Day as one of the Alumni Association's more important student outreach initiatives. As an alumni admissions volunteer, Move-In Day also marks the completion of the admissions process for me.  After interviewing prospective students, then getting a chance to meet the incoming freshmen at summer send-off receptions held for alumni, new students and their families, this day gives me a chance to finally, personally welcome them into the Clark family. It's always proven to be a fun morning to spend on campus.  

I think it's really important for alumni to volunteer for campus events like Move-In Day. One of Clark's strengths is its sense of community and that starts with students and extends to Clark staff, faculty, trustees and alumni. One of the ways to maintain and strengthen the bond is to have alumni involved with Clark in a variety of ways, Move-In Day being one example. It is also important to foster strong alumni-student relations so that when Clark students graduate, they understand how important it is to become and stay an involved alumnus/a. I always tell kids upon delivering the last box to their room to remember this day and in four years, if they are still around Worcester, to return the favor by helping the next generation of Clarkies move in.

I think the benefits of this event for students are many. I hope students begin to gain a first-hand understanding that alumni still are actively involved with Clark. Being some of the first people they meet on campus, I would also hope that we might soothe some of those first-day jitters. We're people who have been-there, done-that and have survived to tell about it.

I actually think we almost have a bigger impact on the parents. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I've comforted a 'first-kid-away-at-school' mom, reassuring her that Clark is a great place and that her child will do just fine.