Networking Networking NETWORKING

My parents have been urging me throughout the past couple of years to network, network, network. At first, I thought they were just being nags, but I'm starting to realize the importance of networking. It really opens up new opportunities and allows you to connect with some pretty awesome people! Every meeting I have with someone makes me think about new ideas and points of view, as well as possibilities for my future. As I am finding out, it's really about who you know. Many of the jobs or mentorships/internships I've done have all been though personal connections of some sort. 

One of my favorite networking coffee dates thus far has been with a woman not too much older than I am at a cool coffee shop called Ruta Maya. One of our family friends suggested I talk to her given my interest in microcredit organizations. She has worked with Fundo Esperanza and Kiva Ambassadors, two super organizations that work with people to start their own enterprises on small loans in hopes of building economic prosperity and developing their communities. We started talking about these organizations, but then got to talking about our lives in more general terms and she gave me really great advice. She said that it's important to take risks and pursue once in a lifetime opportunities, as there's not really a path you can follow but instead one that you pave yourself as you go along. Although I've heard some of the advice she was giving me, I've never really thought about how to live accordingly. It's my life. I can do what I want. That's a pretty powerful thought, ya know?! As this woman was telling me, my parents are incredible resources and have great advice because they are successful and experienced, but I don't need to listen to them 100% and ultimately I need to do what is best for me. I don't know any better than my parents, counselors, guidebooks, whatever.  Sometimes those life-changing experiences are risky and may not turn out well, but that's what makes them necessary. Just taking advantage of doing whatever you're passionate about along the way is truly what's best.


Hearing this advice was somewhat of a relief for me, as I'm a planner and get stressed about whether each decision I make is the right step, but apparently there is no so-called 'right steps'. Despite the 'follow your heart mentality' that I'm trying to embrace, there is an element of planning that people I talk to generally advise me to think about. It's important at this point to start thinking about my possibilities for the future regarding further education beyond college. The obvious choice tends to be going to grad school, but for what? Business? That's a probability. Law? A possibility. What about non-profit management, or public policy? Or a combination of studies? I'll figure it out soon enough!

Meeting after meeting, it becomes more apparent how imperative it is to continue to network and improve my communication skills. I think I can present myself quite well, but there is always room for improvement in learning more about professionalism and poise. Right now I am sometimes reluctant to network, but I know it will pay off in the future.  At times I feel like I’m an inconvenience and I get nervous to talk to professionals, but it makes me feel more confident in what I'm doing to think about how willing I would be in their place to help a young adult hoping to affect change. I'm starting to contact Dickinson alumni to talk to them about their experiences in the real world and hopefully these discussions will lead me down some interesting paths!