Maintaining good communication can be challenging, especially in college. Long distances and busy schedules can push people apart, so it’s essential to make time to contact people to preserve personal and practical relationships.
I’ve grown apart from childhood friends who go to other colleges, family members who live halfway across the country and peers whose schedules don’t align with my own. Anyone reading this article can attest to having at least one person in their life who falls into one of those categories.
Because these situations are so common, it’s important to find ways to mediate the obstacles that make it difficult to keep connections intact.
If you find yourself having difficulty remembering to maintain contact with people, then one solution could be to block out times during the week to send follow-up emails, call loved ones or meet with a friend.
I’ve been trying to fill a lot of my free time with contacting people I know, whether it’s just to check in and catch up, or to maintain a connection and understanding. The strong chemistry that I’ve had with people I’ve known for a long time has started to wane purely due to a lack of communication.
On a more practical note, sustaining relationships also extends to networking for a career. Regular contact with peers, employers and professionals can build trust and prove reliability. For instance, contacting an employer or peer that you might want to work with again keeps doors open for future success.
Proper networking and communication skills are a growing point of interest for employers in a multitude of industries, so if you can work that muscle to regularly follow up and keep in touch, then it could prove valuable.
Inevitably, there will be some things that can’t be helped, and there might always be a certain level of disconnect between yourself and another person due to your unique trajectories. That said, even just a text to a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while is a small yet impactful act that won’t take any significant time out of your day or put you under any unnecessary stress.
I recommend you think of someone who would be good to catch up with and give them a call. It might bring both of you some joy and contentment, just from a phone call.
With so many ways to contact people nowadays, it’s simple to get in touch. If you’re really wondering how someone is doing, don’t hesitate to call them up, text them or grab a coffee if they’re nearby. A good friend or a valuable connection shouldn’t be lost purely due to something like distance or schedules.
Cole Jersek is a junior world cinema major from Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. Cole can be reached at [email protected].
