Masuk Free Press

Every year, current Masuk alumni who are freshmen in college, are invited back to Masuk the week after our winter break to talk to current seniors about the ins and outs of college. Known as Alumni Day, this year’s event was held as a flex session on January 6, 2026. The alumni discuss everything surrounding your freshman year of college, as well as some advice to the seniors.

Masuk school counselor and Alumni Day organizer, Penny Ploski, said, “This year we have eight [alumni], and they’ll come back, and I’ll moderate it. I have questions that I ask them about their experience so far, for current seniors to listen to and learn from. They tend to listen to basically kids their age, better.”

To kick off the flex, the alumni were introduced, giving names, schools and majors. Throughout the course of the session, they were also asked about: how is it being away from home, and dealing with being homesick, how the class schedules and how are they different to highschool, roommates, what is the biggest challenge and how to adjust, how to get involved around campus, food, diet, and groceries and how to decide where to commit to college. They also spoke on class sizes, finances, social life, time management and things of that nature.

“They covered many different aspects of college life, from things like involvement and roommate advice, all the way to traveling far away from home and how hard it really is.” Said senior Sienna Jones. “Specifically, hearing that even if you go far or are a commuter, you still find ways to be included if you put yourself out there.” 

Coming from multiple different schools, different experiences were shared among the college freshmen. For example, the smaller schools tended to have smaller to medium-sized classes in general, but the mid size schools to large schools had small classes and lecture halls with as many as 300 students per lecture in some instances. A common theme among all answers was the importance of putting yourself out there and making connections.

“We’re really lucky; the last two years we’ve had a variety of colleges, from very big, such as Uconn, to very small, to close, such as Uconn of Southern Connecticut to super far, like we have a student coming from the University of Georgia.” said Ploski

For the students, Alumni Day was a useful resource. “Each of the students provided their own perspectives and personal experiences that they found to be important to make a decision,” Said Jones.

“I hope that it gives them some good insight on what college is like,” said Ploski. “Especially as they’re making their final choices, most seniors don’t know where they’re going yet,”

However, it’s an experience for the alumni too, as they reflect on their college experience and think about their high school days. During their time at Masuk, they were encouraged to grab some pizza provided for them, and they got to talk with their friends and previous teachers they got to say hi to.

For College Freshman Lindsey Merriman, who attends Bentley University,  “It’s very nostalgic, coming back and seeing all my friends that I don’t get to see anymore,”

Sammy Davoren, a freshman at Bentley University, said, “It’s a very similar feeling if you were to return to your elementary school as a high schooler, because coming back it’s a lot smaller, and it feels like something old, and something of your past.”

The college freshmen also discussed their experiences with now being the people to guide the current seniors on their path. 

“I remember when the alumni came and talked to us, I had heard them talking and was like, ‘when I’m in college I wanna do that’,” said Merriman. 

College freshman Luna DeMattia, who attends Southern Connecticut State University, said, “If I could help be any sort of support system for future college students, then that would be an honor.”

Overall, Alumni Day was a way for current Masuk students to connect and learn from their previous peers. From dorm room talk to friendly greetings after, Alumni Day is a great way for students to connect and learn. Best wishes to the current seniors and the college freshmen!