Wildcats Connect Across Time Zones

I never knew that a Zoom gathering could so profoundly enrich my life.

Last winter I participated in “ ’Cats Wellness Chat: How Do You Find Your People?” Led by Lucie Sandel, the Northwestern Alumni Association’s senior associate director of alumni engagement, along with Victoria Moore ’14 MA and Maya Oyarbide-Sanchez ’13 MA, the meeting delved into the challenges of reconnecting with people after the isolation imposed by the global pandemic. 

“To see so many of you really showing up — it’s incredible,” Oyarbide-Sanchez observed during the meeting. Participants discussed the frustrations of friendships lost during COVID. I didn’t want the camaraderie and vulnerability shared during the one-hour call to end. Ten days later, a subgroup of six participants reconvened. We’ve been meeting every three weeks ever since. We’ve supported each other through romantic breakups, career changes and becoming empty nesters. And we’ve celebrated new homes, new businesses and new babies. 

We’re a diverse group: We’re different ages and races and live in places throughout the U.S. and around the world, including Turkey and Mexico. We are alums of the Kellogg School of Management; Northwestern Pritzker School of Law; School of Professional Studies; Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications; and The Graduate School. “We’re all kinds of diversity, and that’s what ties us together,” says Mohammad Abu Baker ’19 MBA, who lives in Istanbul. “We comfortably share our lives with each other and cannot believe how time flies when we talk.”

None of us imagined we’d develop this bond. “Forming a supportive tribe for each other was a Northwestern alumni benefit beyond my education and career that wasn’t expected but nevertheless is deeply appreciated,” says Marilyn Schramm ’80 JD, ’81 MA, who lives in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Share your Wildcat encounter at letters@northwestern.edu.