I’m not ashamed to say my first day at Annenberg evoked feelings similar to those of my first day at a new high school – a nerve-racking, unfamiliar time with new teachers, students, and experiences. It wasn't until our two-hour orientation session that I realized the biggest difference (aside from the fact that I was 25, and not 14) was that I had already begun building relationships long before the first day. The various text messages to peers regarding housing, emails to faculty asking about courses, and Facebook posts on our “Class of 2016” Communication Management group had started setting the foundation for solid connections and relationships.

My social media strategy began to pay off well before school even started.  Not long after we lined up for lunch after orientation, another student approached me and said “Hey, you’re the guy from Facebook! Want to eat lunch with us?”  I sat with him and a few other students I recognized from Facebook (many of who I am still friends with today) and realized they were incredibly talented, knowledgeable, and fun.

Now I’m not saying you have to be the proverbial extrovert/social media addict, much less a borderline creepy stalker, but fostering relationships with those in your program WILL BE critical to your academic, professional, and social success. You can boast a 4.0 GPA, but without genuinely connecting with students in Annenberg, USC, and Los Angeles, you limit your professional opportunities and miss out on amazing relationships. Not to mention that these interpersonal skills are critical to career success; we are communication professionals after all.

But Facebook, Twitter, or Snapchat only opens the door.  Now you have to step through it...and out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to smile or wave at a peer you recognize, sit next to someone new in class, or strike up a conversation with someone new outside of class. These interpersonal skills may help you meet your next best friend, mentor, or future business partner.  In fact, I would argue that the greatest part of the Annenberg Advantage is the opportunity to foster these connections and friendships.  Turn your Trojan Network into your greatest asset.