That retort is, UrRong. Though it's true that romantic relationships have an expiration date and sometimes it can be challenging to maintain a friendship with an ex-girlfriend, Nikhil has made a point of addressing the power imbalance and respecting boundaries. He's not trying to exploit the situation; he's simply looking to leverage the strong bonds of his friendship to act as a helping hand.
Nikhil's essay was not simply about maintaining a friendship with his ex-girlfriends; it was about being resourceful and creating opportunities for others who don't have the same financial means he does. The idea that Nikhil should feel ashamed for asking for "donations" from his ex-girlfriends is unfounded. After all, it's not like he asked them for money directly - he simply wanted to provide an opportunity for them to give back and be a part of something bigger.
The underlying message in Nikhil's essay wasn't just about friendship - it was about making connections and building relationships. He's showing that we should strive to form genuine bonds with our ex-girlfriends, and that those bonds can create meaningful opportunities. By calling them alumnae instead of ex-girlfriends, he is suggesting that our relationships can continue to evolve beyond their romantic beginnings.
Overall, Nikhil's essay highlights the importance of having strong relationships with our peers and encourages us to think of our ex-girlfriends not as “exes”, but as valuable members of the community who can help us create positive change and make a difference in other people's lives. So, maybe we should all take a page out of Nikhil’s book and start calling our ex-girlfriends alumnae instead--UrRong?