Half the fun in meeting a new person is the chance it provides to play the name game. The object of the game, in addition to exhibiting your popularity and inherent likability, is to prove that somehow you are already connected to this person by knowing someone who knows someone who knows them.
In today’s interconnected world, we weave unique social webs even through passing interactions. Opportunities, whether personal or professional, are often determined by the strength and complexity of one’s web. Those who don’t know people who know people can lose out, while the Kevin Bacons of the world are able to spin their connections to advance their own interests and ideas.
At Northwestern, we are well aware of the network of resources we have at our fingertips. In the classroom, many of our professors are top figures in their fields, whose academic credentials are accompanied by long lists of professional contacts. Outside of the university, thousands of alumni occupy corner offices in a variety of industries across the country.
While the Kevin Bacon game has become a little passe – it reached its height when “The River Wild” was still in theaters – a few rounds of play here at NU could lead to surprising results.
Six degrees, after all, leaves plenty of room to stretch the domino effect even to faraway role models who embody your highest aspirations, and who have achieved things you might only dream of doing.
Once you draw these connections, it’s what you do with them that matters. No matter how stretched some of your links might feel, you have nothing to lose, so why not go out on a limb? Tell them your perspective, ask them the questions you might have, or for a favor while you are at it. Even busy, powerful people like helping students when you show potential and have a genuine interest in what they do. Having some connection or common ground to start with is a perfect launching pad for dialogue.
Recently a friend of mine met the dean of one of her top choices for medical school through the NU Premedical Society, and she ended up taking a personal tour of the school with him. Another friend has been corresponding with a top investigative journalist for the Chicago Tribune after he visited our journalism class. Yesterday I was able to lunch with a staff writer for the New Yorker who was on campus for a lecture.
Things like this are most easily accessible as we live within the university bubble, so take advantage. Don’t let yourself become so consumed by day-to-day college life that you overlook the variety of interesting opportunities available to you.
A little effort can go a long way in establishing an enlightening relationship. Even if your door-knocking goes unanswered, effort rarely goes unnoticed, making you more memorable, even six degrees removed.
Amanda Junker is a Medill senior. She can be reached at [email protected].
