Lyon’s Pride and pride in Mount Holyoke College

Going into the weekend of the Lyon’s Pride Conference, I was excited to meet alums from various class years and learn about how queer life on campus has evolved. I left the conference with a newfound sense of connection to Mount Holyoke College. The College often boasts about its robust alum network, and while I’ve formed a few memorable relationships with alums in the past, I had never felt truly tapped into this network until now. 

Spending time with alums over meals, in roundtable discussions and between sessions, I found it easy to make conversations with them. It was inspiring to hear about how their professional and personal lives have evolved since college. I particularly appreciated hearing about their career changes and how they have navigated living in new places, moved to find places that align with their lives and found more confidence and comfort in their LGBTQ+ identities. 

One of my favorite sessions was the Lesbian Caucus. As we sat in a circle, talking about identity and belonging, I was amazed by the warmth and openness among the mix of current students and alums across a wide range of class years. Our experiences with identity and Mount Holyoke were each different, but we found shared moments. It was deeply grounding and affirming, to be in this space, and I left eager to continue the day. 

I was also moved by the Interfaith Roundtable. I grew up in an interfaith family, and interfaith observances, discussions and spaces are central to my life at MHC, from living in the Interfaith Living-Learning Community for the past two years to attending interfaith events and taking religious studies courses. It was fulfilling to speak with other students and alums who are invested in having interfaith discussions. I enjoyed hearing everyone’s experiences with navigating their faith and queerness, including how the two interact — sometimes creating conflict or bolstering each other. There was something sweet about knowing that interfaith conversations have been occurring at MHC for a long time. 

After the roundtable, I attended a session hosted by FAMILIA, a student organization for LGBTQ+ people of color on campus, where board members spoke about the group and Drag Ball. It was a wonderful presentation from my fellow students, and I loved hearing about the planning that goes into the event, this year’s theme and, of course, the history of ballroom culture. After the presentation, alums began asking questions, and I enjoyed learning about how Drag Ball, as an MHC tradition, has evolved over the years. 

I also attended sessions about life after college and living abroad. Since I will be graduating in May, many of my recent conversations have focused on my post-college life, including applying to graduate school and jobs. I was pleased that the LGBTQ+ Post-College Life Panel primarily focused on life beyond work: raising kids, volunteering, activism and building community. It was exciting to hear the wide range of alums’ experiences and life paths. 

During mealtimes, we were able to have more relaxed discussions. At lunch, I sat with other students and alums who have worked in, or are interested in, careers in academia and education. It was fantastic to hear about the sessions everyone had attended and to get to know each other. Our conversations covered topics from careers in academia to life at MHC, especially dining, dorms and M&Cs. I appreciated how, throughout the conference, discussions focused on both professional and personal life. 

When dinner rolled around, I found myself sitting at a table with people I had met earlier or heard speak on a panel that day. It was nice to expand the conversation and learn more about where everyone lives and their lives in general. We talked about classes, professors and departments at the College as well as queer families and kids. 

I am extremely grateful that I took the time to attend the conference and for the new connections that I hope to foster for years to come.