Oliver never felt more alive and attuned than when he was thinking of his college. He had graduated more than two decades ago, and yet he was still enamored of his years there and how they had shaped him so deeply. Oliver had met and married his wife there, chosen his career field there, and had his first child there. Oliver and his wife had named their three children after college mentors and friends. Oliver had taken his first job with an alum from the college, where several other alums also worked. His second job had been with another alum, and now in his third job he still kept in touch with those alums as his supportive professional network. Oliver’s best friends, all these years later, were his former college roommates. And now, one of Oliver’s children was about to graduate from the college, while another child was just enrolling and the third child they expected to enroll. No wonder Oliver was thinking how he might leave a legacy with his college. 

Schools

We spend a lot of time in schools, and so it stands to reason that schools might be a ground on which to grow one’s legacy. Elementary and secondary schools occupy twelve or thirteen years of one’s life. Those years are significant, while some of those schools and their teachers and programs may be deeply formative. Wealthy parents don’t send their children to premier prep schools for convenience. They instead expect those schools to make significant differences in their children’s lives. Same with not-so-wealthy parents who sacrifice financially to send their children to private schools. And the same can also be said for parents of all socioeconomic levels who choose their residences for the quality of the district’s schools or who send their children across town to a school of choice. Parents, students, and families across generations can grow very close to their primary and secondary schools that shape family legacies, enough that families often leave their own legacies there.

Colleges

Parents, students, and families across generations can also grow very close to their colleges, universities, and graduate and professional programs. College years can be huge transition years from childhood and youth into adulthood. Emancipation, new adult friendships that last a lifetime, engagement and marriage, new perspectives on the world, mentorships, child bearing and rearing, internships, career choice, and first career jobs can all occur in or immediately after college. College graduates who go on to graduate or professional school find the additional years of schooling even more formative. Many students enter with one identity and set of values, commitments, and experiences, and leave with new identity and experiences, and refined values and commitments. No wonder, then, that colleges and college life can be so impactful on us. And no wonder, then, that many of us desire to give back, indeed to pursue a college legacy. 

Service

Service to your school is one way to leave a legacy. Schools at all levels depend on substantial volunteer networks to sustain their programs. Schools often maintain their core educational program solely with paid full-time faculty and staff members. But co-curricular programs, extracurricular programs, and other program enhancements can depend largely on volunteer networks, often through the school’s alumni network. Among other acts of school service, volunteers may speak in classes and at graduations and other events, host students and classes at worksites, mentor and coach students, accept student interns, host school recruiting events, provide references and recommendation letters, and interview students and graduates for jobs. When you volunteer at your school or in support of your school’s programs, you share your best with your school and its current students. You invest again in your school and its students, with your time, resources, and talents. You also lend your reputation and influence to your school, burnishing your school’s own reputation. Dedicated volunteer service to your school can sow a rich school legacy.

Students

Connecting with your school’s current students also enhances your school legacy. Schools necessarily occupy and shelter their students, in order to safely and securely educate them. But schools can also be insular, walled off from the real world, depriving their students of important glimpses of real life and real-world experiences. Ask a student about the best part of their academic year, and they’ll often say that it was some kind of internship, field study, field trip, or other real-world experience. As an alum of your school, you have the connections and capacity to give your school’s students that glimpse of real life. You may speak to students in a class at the invitation of the instructor. You may submit to student interviews in groups or one on one, or you may interview students for their practice at job interviews. You may mentor students in a formal school program, advise student clubs, coach intramural or other athletic programs, and otherwise engage students in a myriad of safe, secure, responsible, and accountable ways. Doing so will share your wisdom and experiences, and enhance your school legacy.

Graduates

Helping your school’s graduates is another way to enhance your school legacy. Your school’s graduates can make a sound pool of job candidates when you or your employer need to retain additional help. You know your school’s programs, instructors, and values. You may be able to interview several graduates at a time on campus, or you may be able to post your open positions on campus for resume submission and review. You may know the graduate’s faculty references and be able to obtain a candid insight into the graduate’s weaknesses and strengths. You may also be able to arrange for trusted faculty or staff members to act as mentors to the graduate whom you hire, just as you may be a more-valuable mentor to the graduate for having attended the same school. Even if you don’t have an open position for a graduate, you may have job leads or volunteer opportunities in the field where the graduate could get some exposure and experience. You may also serve as a career mentor and advisor for graduates, and help graduates with their professional development including networking, writing, publication, and leadership. Be a supporter of your school’s graduates, and you’ll enhance your school legacy.

Teaching

Serving as an adjunct instructor or in a similar teaching role is another way to enhance your school legacy. Some programs, especially at the college and graduate or professional school level, depend heavily on adjunct instructors to bring practical skills, current knowledge, and network connections to the educational program. Your adjunct teaching can be a huge contribution to your school while also contributing to your own professional network, development, and reputation. You may even find an opportunity to become, and have an interest in becoming, a full-time instructor. Not only does your instruction contribute to your school and its educational program, it also pours your energy and interest into students. Students are a teacher’s legacy. Students carry your insight, interests, affinities, and passion into their own lives and careers, expanding your influence and enriching your legacy. Teach, if you have the opportunity. 

Donations

Your favorite school will also welcome your financial donations. Alumni donate to their favorite school in several ways. Some make annual contributions of a specific amount, with the goal of reaching a recognized level of giving. Some schools honor givers at different cumulative financial levels in different ways, designating clubs, memberships, and circles, and publicizing those designations in various commemorative ways. Schools can, in other words, be remarkably intentional about helping alumni create, promote, and preserve legacies. The honors can even extend to naming chairs, rooms, halls, buildings, and other grounds, programs, institutes, centers, and facilities after donor alumni. Schools also invite special giving for new construction and programs, and special events. Find a school program or cause close to your heart, and consider being a regular or special giver to your favorite school, to cement your school legacy. 

Bequests

You can also enhance your school legacy through a bequest out of your probate estate. You may or may not be in a position to make regular or special school donations while living but may be in a better position to do so through your estate. You don’t know your own financial needs during your lifetime and may prefer not to make substantial school gifts during your lifetime. Your passing marks the occasion and opportunity to fulfill your desire to leave your school a legacy. Include your favorite school in your will for a bequest fulfilling your desire for a school legacy, after providing for your family. Your school bequest can also benefit your surviving family members in the honor it brings them and the memory of you and your school relationship that your bequest preserves. 

Leadership

You may also be able to enhance your school legacy through leadership positions in your school. Schools have governing boards, often made up of alumni or including alumni among other representatives of important academic, business, professional, nonprofit, or government constituencies. Share your leadership skill and experience as a member of your school’s governing board, if you have the opportunity. Governing boards also appoint committees, task forces, and other advisory bodies to assist the board in governing the school wisely. Governing boards use those advisory bodies to recruit and qualify their own members. Get involved with your school’s advisory bodies, if you have the opportunity. Schools also have programs, centers, institutes, and other bodies, each with their own advisory council or board. Find leadership opportunities in your school that fit your knowledge, skills, and interests, and let your school know of your interest and availability. School leadership is an excellent way to enhance your school legacy.

Reflection

Which of the schools you have attended was most formative for you? At which of your schools have you left or would you like to leave a legacy? Survey your favorite school for volunteer opportunities. Even if you live a long way away, remote opportunities may be available. How can you support your favorite school’s current students? How can you help your favorite school’s graduates? Would you be qualified to teach as an adjunct or in a similar role at your school? Do you support your favorite school financially? Would you consider doing so in your will with a bequest at some level? Does your favorite school have a governing board, advisory boards, task forces, committees, or councils on which you could participate, sharing your leadership knowledge, judgment, and skills?

Key Points

• Primary and secondary schools can be a good place to build a legacy.

• Your college or university can be another good place for legacy seeds.

• You can build a school legacy out of your volunteer school service.

• You contribute to your school legacy most when aiding its students.

• Helping your school’s graduates also contributes to your school legacy.

• Adjunct or other teaching at your school enhances your school legacy.

• Gifts and donations to your school contribute to your school legacy.

• Bequeathing a portion of your estate to your school can leave a legacy.

• Taking school leadership positions can enhance your school legacy.

Read Chapter 9.