Connections Are Everything: A College Student's Guide to Relationship-Rich Education

I have been a high school educator, coach, and advisor for over 30 years, and in that span of time my colleagues and I have seen plenty of students struggle to transition well from senior year into the first year of college - and some even beyond that. Although the adjustment to the increased academic rigor usually was part of the picture, the primary issue for many of those young people was difficulty "finding their people" on campus. The isolation resulting from pandemic lockdowns seems only to have accelerated the problem in recent years; we hear now more than ever from our former students that they are failing to hit a social groove, and consequently they are pretty unhappy.If you are an adult with one of these young people in your life (or you want to help young people to avoid social difficulties), consider handing them this book! Or, better yet - read and discuss it together! If you are one of the students I described above - or strive NOT to be - do yourself a favor and give "Connections Are Everything" a serious read.The book is very "accessible"; the writing style is conversational and friendly, and the tone is both positive and encouraging. Concise chapters feature thematic advice based on sound research regarding how to expand one’s social connections in the college setting, and each concludes with short reflective activities that invite readers to reflect and to actively apply the concepts discussed. Whether the readers are encouraged to talk to a classmate or to a professor, or to engage in “relationship accelerators” such as study abroad programs or campus employment, the assumption is that the reader is competent and strong, and the emphasis is on the necessity of proactive effort and personal agency to take charge of their social journey.Another strength of “Connections Are Everything” is in the diversity of students featured in its pages. Anecdotes from college students from varying backgrounds - including first-generation students, those who work full-time, non-traditional aged students, and students with children - who have successfully navigated their way to richer, more fulfilling social networks demonstrate to the reader that feelings of social dislocation are broadly shared, reassuring the reader they are not alone, “freakish”, or defective if they’ve had trouble making connections.While some of the advice offered in this book might seem obvious to some readers, the key distinction is the sensitive and compassionate way in which the authors express the unwavering belief in their readers’ abilities to implement the proposed ideas and to succeed in their efforts to create a more fulfilling and connected collegiate experience. The overall effect is refreshing and empowering, and this book should become a must-have resource for those looking to thrive in their social interactions.

Looking for the perfect gift for the student heading off to college? This is it. It will reinforce all the things mom and dad are saying and provide the HOW and WHY. Make the most of college with this advice!