In the late 90’s (read 98-99), when everybody and anybody was busy building up dotcoms, it was difficult to get a sensible domain name registered by serious players, because whatever one could come up with was already registered by someone. I had just started my career as a software engineer in a startup and was in the process of finding an available domain name for the world’s alumni community, when I stumbed upon alumni.net just to inform my CEO that his idea of starting such a portal was well behind time. Our CEO was not thrilled, but I was as I found entries of my school and engineering college there.
The portal was more than just a website - it was a hub of nostalgia, a place where long lost friends got re-united everyday. Although very simple in its looks, it was quite quick to load and return search results. With time it has revamped its looks but still maintains its charm.
On alumni.net, one can easily register as a member and join groups belonging to his / her school , college and even organisations. What’s more, if there is no group there for your school or college etc. you can create one and be the first one to grace it. Its a great feeling to see old colleagues join and keep your school, college or organisation ticking. I speak by virtue of my own experience.
A portal can only be termed successful if it has 2 features:
A critical mass: The number of members that keep it alive; and
A steady growth rate of the community. Eight years after I visited it for the first time, I still see it doing well on these 2 success factors. I registered myself on the portal in 1998 itself and , to my credit, have been able to locate few of my school friends and college mates. For people like me who graduated in the 20th century, it was more than a welcome experience. I understand that the alumni of 21st century passouts will always be better connected as they would have had email accounts and cell phones while they were studying together.
One fine day in May 2000, I was accosted by an old classmate of mine - after 16 years of anonymity. She used to sit next to me in school, but both of us hardly spoke. We started our conversation with this introduction and went on to become one of the best friends of each other in a few days. Both of us started confiding more into each other than what we did with our families. This behaviour was in absolute contrast with how we had known each other a decade and a half ago. What’s more, she went on to introduce me to a very close friend of hers as a suitable match for me. Her efforts paid well and I found my life partner this way. (For those who have fallen asleep by now - please note - I married THE FRIEND of my ex-classmate NOT my ex-classmate!).
Disclaimer: Alumni.net is not in the matchmaking business, so please do not expect a repeat of my experience. I cited the same here as it all started with alumni.net.
Since then, I have re-established communication with few more of my old friends. I am sure there are hundreds of others by now who would have similar stories to tell. Hence I feel it is a virtual place one should visit and get registered and find old friends without going out to search for them.
After all.....Its a small world!