Dear friends!
My name is Mohamad Duba, 2016 graduate, and this year I was graciously allowed to act as CIS Alumni Association president for the 2020-2021 academic period. A resolution I set myself this New Year season is trying to strengthen my connections and pursue more meaningful interactions. This sentiment is well-timed due to the volatile global climate, forcing us into differing degrees of isolation. Having been told that ‘as you invest in your relationships, both professional and personal, random payoffs begin materialising’, I wanted to see this in practice.
Holding fond memories of my school days, I tried to maintain a connection with people from that period of my life. Not long ago, I had the pleasure of meeting one of my CIS teachers, Mr Ildar Ilyazov, in London. Other than sharing old memories, he also told me the plans for growing the school’s alumni network. This idea excited me as I thought it might rekindle old ties. Furthermore, I have used the alumnus networks at my undergraduate and postgraduate universities, where I was given valuable guidance for my career and academic growth. Witnessing the benefits first-hand, I look forward to taking part in this knowledge-sharing cycle beginning at our school.
CIS served as a crossroads, where we have accumulated memories of our time there – long nights studying for exams, competitive teacher-student football games, jokes in the locker room, lunchtime debates, advice from our mentors, and maybe a misadventure or two. Remembering all the kind faces and character-defining moments that have helped shaped our outlook, I become grateful for being a part of this community. Naturally, as we strive to reach our career aspirations, life scatters us across different continents, disciplines, and industries, leaving no time for us to maintain the channels of communication we had in school. As students and teachers come and go, everyone leaves their mark, defining what CIS means for future generations. The Alumni network is a physical embodiment of this, allowing us to foster cross-generational ties and maintain meaningful relationships.
Through taking part in the alumni association, you will be able to cultivate your network.
We hope to build a community to help better utilise your skill set, stay on top of the latest trends, keep a pulse on the job market, meet prospective mentors, partners and clients, and gain access to the necessary resources that will foster your career development. A young member will use the collective expertise of the alumnus for advice and personal growth. But once the member has become established in their respected field, their advice will become of great value to someone beginning the journey they have been on for years. The benefit to the established member is the novel information of trends and new processes common in younger generations. Hopefully, this will turn into a place where we can share ideas, discuss opportunities, and create a network to manifest our full potentials.
