Graduates! Pack Your Social Skills!
For you recent high
school graduates headed to Institutions of Higher Learning
there are only a few months left before it’s time to start
packing. Of course, there will be the essentials such as
your clothes, your computer, big plastic bins your mom thinks
you need, an overabundance of hangers, newly designed laundry
baskets, pictures from high school, and your dreams, fears,
and anxieties. There is, however, one more “essential” to
add to the list. It is definitely one of the most important:
Social Skills.
The first few weeks of every freshman’s
college experience will leave you feeling somewhat lost
and out of place as you struggle to connect with other
scrambling, equally anxious newcomers to campus. I went
through this process in my college experience and you will
too! However, this is not an obstacle to overcome but an
opportunity to grow and expand your horizons through building
relationships with new people.
First Few Weeks Are Vital
Get to know as many people as possible
in the initial weeks of your freshmen year. Extend yourself
to a variety of people, not just the people in your hall,
but also to people in the cafeteria, in class, and even
in the student center. This will help you build relationships
with a diversity of fellow students across the institution.
Social circles form quickly, so consciously extend your
self before groups are established and therefore harder
to break into. It will be uncomfortable and challenging
at times to approach your new peers, or professors, but
it is an essential part of growing and developing as an
individual who is confident and at ease with others.
Social Skills Are Key
Your social skills are foundational in
initiating relationships. This is especially true for incoming
freshman who are unfamiliar with the majority of people
they encounter. Social skills will open the door to positive
social interactions. They not only help you develop and
maintain relationships but also assist in dealing with
uncomfortable situations, of which there are several in
the first few months on campus.
It is not physics or bio-chemistry, but the social graces
that will help you relate personally with peers, professors, coaches,
counselors and administrators. The importance of these graces can never
be over estimated. No college freshman is fully prepared without attending
to them.
Social Skills To Remember:
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Extend yourself to your peers and initiate interaction. This will help you build confidence.
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When you see someone you know greet them first. Say “Hi” first to break the ice.
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When you say “Hi” include the person’s name. If you cannot remember it address the problem up front. “Remind me of your name again”. People will appreciate the honesty.
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Make eye contact when interacting with peers, professors, coaches, counselors, or administrators. It shows interest in and respect for the other person.
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Speak clearly and loudly enough to be understood. Project confidence.
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Remember to smile when greeting or interacting. It makes a big difference and usually puts a smile on the other person’s face.
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Remember positive non-verbal communication. Your body language says as much as the words you use. (Stand Tall)
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After an initial interaction or greeting, work on being a good listener. Never interrupt the other person, make eye contact with them, and ask relevant questions. Asking questions is most important. In a college setting listening and asking questions is essential in getting to know people. It helps them become more comfortable with you.
These are principles that in my activities with Boost
Kids, I have emphasized repeatedly with young people across the nation.
No matter what your age, young or old, the social graces are essential
for achieving satisfaction in life during college and beyond. Developing
your social skills will help you build confidence, be able to present
yourself in a positive manor, and most importantly, it will enable you
to develop strong and mutual relationships with the people you encounter.
So this fall when you are loading your plastic bins,
laundry baskets, and hangers into the car, remember that perhaps your
most important asset is your social acumen, your talent for relating
well with people. Nurture and develop this talent from your first steps
on campus. As the moment approaches, take a deep breath and be open
to the new exciting possibilities ahead. Who knows what interesting
new acquaintances and friendships lie ahead for you. You will soon
see. Good Luck!
How BoostKids Can Help:
BoostKids is a program that can help increase a child’s confidence by teaching social skills to children and building their character. BoostKids has been and is currently being taught in schools, non-profit organizations, and after-school programs. The program is now available as an at-home training program for children and their parents. The key training tool of the BoostKids program is an interactive CD-ROM that shows kids the right-way and the wrong-way to handle social situations. They learn from real kid actors in real-life scenerios!
For more information about what’s included in BoostKids, click here.
ORDER NOW - Free 30-day Trial, click here.
By Charlie Copp, Director of Boost Kids
As seen in the July 2006 edition of Varsity View
About the author: Charlie Copp, Executive
Director of Boost Kids, LLC, wrote this article. Charlie is a 2004 graduate
of the University of Pennsylvania and former captain of the Men’s Basketball
team. Boost Kids is a national program designed to increase confidence
and teach young people the Social Skills and Character Development necessary
for success in life.
Click
Here to view the article on Varsity View
