“It's not what you know or who you know, but who knows you.”
- Susan RoAne
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Your success both academically
and socially in high school depends greatly on how you network. Networking
means reaching out and maintaining good relationships with peers and teachers
in a way that is advantageous to you. Although this sounds a bit selfish, it is
vital to your success in life. In the professional world, this is called
schmoozing. Schmoozers see the benefit of their peers and apply it to their own
success. Although schmoozing is usually reserved for people trying to work
their way up in their careers, it always helps to start early. After all, the
people you go to school with are the people you will be working with in ten
years time. In the troublesome job market that you'll be graduating into, you
never know when a good high school friendship can result in a job offer.
Believe it or not, getting a job in this economy has evolved from what you know
to who you know. Although schmoozing will become much more valuable in college
when people already know what they will be doing and have the resources to do
it, schmoozing in high school just gives you a leg up above everyone else. Be
generous and friendly to the people around you, because when you'll need it
most, they will be owing you a favor. This is why it's important to make
lasting friendships in high school and network with these people after high
school. Never underestimate the potential that your peers have.
Let’s take me for example.
Throughout high school, I was always social. I got along with friends well and
was on good terms with my teachers and counselors. I’m known around the school
as a trustworthy and hard working guy and engage in school activities and
clubs. I am, admittedly, a schmoozer. I realized early what opportunities and
resources were presented to me at school and used them to my own advantage. I
realized the benefit of being on a staff member’s good side. Part of a teacher’s
judgement on a student depends on how that student decides to present
him/herself. Better relationships meant better understanding between the
student/teacher, often leading to better grades and glowing recommendations. I
am always kind to my peers and always present a friendly personality. I network
with my surrounding people for their initial benefit, and my own eventual
benefit.
Outreach in high school can also
teach you valuable life lessons about yourself and how you socialize. Many
people say that high school is where you begin to discover who you are as a
person and how you fit in with other people, and they’re right. In high school,
you discover how you work, how you socialize and how you network. The way you
reach out to your peers tells a lot about how you can work in the future.
Whether it be to schmooze or to provide general care for your peers, networking
is the first step you take toward professional adulthood. This will especially
be helpful in the workforce where you have to debate, negotiate and build relationships
with your colleagues for your benefit and theirs. Networking can also be used
in high school to genuinely build relationships with people whom appeal to you.
In this sense, networking is a lot like economics. It’s all about the decisions
you make on how to manage the resources and services available to you. For
example, a guidance counselor is the one of the most under appreciated resource
you have in high school. These people devote their careers to make sure your
academic process is running smoothly. Come junior and senior year, guidance
counselors are your best friends. They help you through the college process and
help you achieve whatever it is you want to do after high school. It never
hurts to reach out and network with your guidance counselors because
they will be the ones who write your recommendation letters for college.
Networking has to come with a
general sense of friendliness, professionalism, and consideration. With these
components employed and your goals in mind, your high school experience will
run that much more smoothly.
Written by David Greenman
Written by David Greenman