Creating relationships is beneficial for you and your career

For many of you just entering college, you are probably feeling overwhelmed and worried because for the first time in life, you are on your own. That is okay, and it would be weird if college didn’t feel that way at first. The good news is now is your time to discover who you really want to be and what kind of people you want to surround yourself with.

Some of you are probably coming into college with people you also went to high school with. Now is your time to branch out from those people and rediscover who you really want to be. 

For the majority of us, we grew up in small towns which means we still have so much to learn about the people around us. 

Meeting new people can be an uncomfortable experience, especially if you are not social. The good news is people desire some sort of connection which means socializing will not be the death of you.

 Get out of your comfort zone and meet new people. Attend all the events you can and get to know the person sitting next to you. The worst thing that can happen is that person will give you a cold shoulder, but don’t be discouraged. 

I didn’t know anyone when I first came to school here, but over time I met some great people who share similar goals. Getting to know these people helped me figure out what my true values are and now I have a better understanding of what I would like to do with my life. 

Networking is a valuable skill to have because “It’s not what you do, but who you know”, so why wouldn’t you want to meet as many people as you can? If shyness is preventing you from meeting people and doing the things you want, then you have an obstacle to hurdle. 

It also helps knowing you will have many group projects in college, so you have to work on meeting new people regardless. You do not want to look back at your time in college and regret how much of a hermit you were.

Most students and faculty here are friendly,  jump out of your comfort zone and meet new people. You will never know who can make a significant impact on your life if you don’t embrace the opportunity with a simple interaction.

Meeting new people gives you a sense of belonging and the satisfaction of developing your social skills. As a young adult who may feel alone for the first time, these social skills can be crucial for your survival and success during, and after college.

During my freshman year, I got to know many different people, ranging from my residential neighbors to my professors. 

Befriending my RA helped me know what was going on around campus as well as becoming an RA myself. Talking with my professors during their office hours helped me find jobs such as Upward  Bound during the summer or as a writer and editor for The Eagle.

Needless to say, I would not be in the position I am today had I not jumped out of my comfort zone in meeting new people. But this is not to say that everyone you meet will have a significant impact on your life, because often times that is not the case. 

This is why I urge you to embrace the uncomfortable stigma of meeting new people and testing your social boundaries. We can all learn something about ourselves by the interactions we have with people.

My point is, you are surrounded by more  people who are in a similar living situation as you  than any other point in your life. To spend your entire time in college and never expand your social horizons is a disservice to yourself and future possibilities.

Every face you see on campus has a story that is just as complicated as yours, which means you have a chance to learn some cool things you would’ve never guessed about someone.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk even gives credit to his company’s success to his ability to attract great people.

Introduce yourself to someone new today and remember their name, that person could be your future best friend