Written by Armand De Lambilly – Former Head Boy and Inaugural Alumni President
FBS Alumni: Enjoy, Give back, Network.
Last Friday, a dozen FBS old boys attended their first event since leaving FBS: the 1st XV’s Friday Night Lights rugby game. The main pillars of FBS Alumni were perfectly on show that night.
Firstly, we enjoyed. We were entertained by a strong FBS victory and were able to catch up with our former teachers. Enjoyment is a key part of an alumni group; it allows relationships between former students to be fostered after school, which then facilitates networking. It also allows former students to stay connected with the school community in a way that is fun and relaxed. In other words, it is the glue that brings the two other pillars together. Enjoyment naturally begets networking and makes former students more inclined to get involved in helping the school. Now, the FBS Alumni committee is focussing on organising the first annual ‘Old Boys Gathering’, bringing all the alumni together and providing an opportunity for us to all exchange on our university, gap year, apprenticeship or employment experiences. The excitement amongst us is already palpable and it promises to be a great night.
Secondly, last Friday, we gave back. We were asked questions by current students about our university life in a casual setting – I was personally asked for advice by a year 11 student about what A Levels he should pick for the subject he wanted to do at university. This pillar is what I want to invest most of my time on. We have created an email address (alumni@fulhamboysschool.org.uk) for students or staff to easily contact us if they feel it would be beneficial to use our advice – from GCSE choices in Yr.9, to A Level choices in Yr.11, passing by work experience advice in Yr.10. However, this help remains understandably most relevant for Sixth Formers. Last month, I was able to give a current Yr.12 a tour of my college in Cambridge and read a countless number of Yr.13s’ personal statements. FBS Alumni ‘Give Back’ is a way to formalise this and make sure that all students have access to this invaluable resource: former students. I would have loved to have access to this when I was at FBS.
Lastly, we networked last Friday. It was a perfect chance for the old boys to catch up amongst ourselves in a casual atmosphere. We spoke about how university is treating each of us and those on a gap year explained their exciting plans for travel later in the year. Although at first sight, these conversations seem trivial and inconsequential, in the future they will not be about each other’s universities but rather, each other’s employment. This is what is so exciting about FBS Alumni. We are founding a community of people that will eventually be able to discuss their various careers. However, this starts now. It is through keeping these relationships from the offset that this community will persevere and become more plentiful in years to come.
FBS has always seeked to match and exceed what private schools offer. FBS Alumni embodies this. It will create a rich community of people that are able to both help each other through networking, and the school in careers advice, financial help or otherwise.
So, if you have a son at FBS, I ask one thing of you. When your son comes back from school today please ask him if he knows what FBS Alumni is. If he doesn’t, use it as an opportunity to tell him about this extremely exciting post-school community.
And remember, don’t be afraid of contacting us at: alumni@fulhamboysschool.org.uk
