While the statement “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” doesn’t necessarily ring true in all cases, I believe that in many scenarios, having and making the right connections while you are in college can be just as important as what you learn in the classroom.

As a student at Park, it is easy, and almost expected, to slip into a hazy routine of attending classes during the day, tackling homework at night and hanging out with a core group of like-majored friends in any free time you might have.

Naturally, athletes hang out with athletes, nursing students with nursing students and so on. By sharing the same classes, schedule and studying the same material, this happens organically.

Unless you are involved in campus clubs or organizations that bring together students of varying majors, there is a small chance you will befriend many outside your major.

As a student, I have realized one thing: it is so easy to allow your world to become small. With all of my main classes in one building far away from music or biology majors, it is unlikely that I connect with students outside the walls of Copley Hall. But as a journalism major, I have also realized that those walls need to come down.

For any reporter, one-half of the battle of getting a story is knowing who to talk to. It is impossible to report on events happening around campus if you never leave your world and talk to other students.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting a student in the social work program who carries a tangible passion for being an advocate for others.

I anticipate the benefit of meeting her to extend beyond our time at Park and hopefully into professional settings.

Right now, we may all be separated by different majors but in the real world we are all going to work together to create thriving communities.

There is no reason we should not break down the walls and work to build these connections now as we pass one another in the halls or in the cafeteria.

In time, Park University has the capacity to grow and be known for a strong group of connected alumni and I would love to see that happen both during my time here and also in the future.