September Webinar Recap

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In September, Dr. Chris Wilson shared insights on building meaningful relationships with peers and professors, networking naturally and exploring career opportunities through the connections students make in college. Drawing from his experience as both a public relations professional and professor, Chris discussed how students can start conversations, develop genuine relationships and make the most of their time in college. He also shared advice on approaching professors, finding mentors and using relationships to discover potential academic and career paths.

Chris shared that the transition from high school to college is an important opportunity to practice the social skills students will use throughout their professional lives. While starting conversations with new people can feel intimidating, he encouraged students to recognize that we often overestimate how difficult these interactions will be and underestimate how rewarding meaningful connections can be.

He encouraged students to approach relationships authentically rather than viewing every interaction as a high-stakes opportunity. It’s okay to feel awkward when meeting someone new. Instead of worrying about saying the perfect thing, students can focus on being kind, showing genuine interest, and getting to know the person in front of them.

Chris encouraged students to think differently about networking by focusing on the person rather than what that person can do for them. He emphasized treating others as individuals with divine identity instead of viewing them as tools for achieving a personal or professional goal.

Rather than approaching someone with the mindset of “What can this person do for me?” students can focus on getting to know others, finding common interests, and building genuine friendships. Chris emphasized that meaningful relationships are not transactional and that genuine connections can develop naturally over time.

Chris shared how relationships with professors can have a lasting impact on a student’s academic and professional journey. Drawing from his own experience, he explained how a personal connection with a professor can influence a student’s career path and open doors to opportunities.

He encouraged students to remember that professors are people too. Students can get to know their professors by attending office hours, reaching out to TAs, asking about their experiences, and finding common interests beyond academics. Chris also encouraged students to take advantage of their position as learners and use their “student card” to ask professionals questions and conduct informational interviews.

Chris suggested that students reframe networking as simply making friends and getting to know people. This can make networking feel much less intimidating and transactional. Students don’t have to approach every professional connection with the goal of getting a job or finding an opportunity.

Instead, students can use their position as learners to invite professionals to share their experiences and expertise. Chris emphasized that students can contribute to relationships by bringing genuine interest, energy, and curiosity to the conversation. Sometimes, simply being interested in someone and their experiences can be valuable.

Chris also discussed the importance of continuing to invest in relationships, even when people no longer see each other regularly. Maintaining a connection can be as simple as reaching out, sharing a personal update, checking in, or finding a reason to reconnect.

Whether a relationship is with a classmate, professor, mentor, or professional, meaningful connections require continued effort. Chris encouraged students to consistently invest time in the people they care about and allow those relationships to grow naturally throughout their college experience and beyond.