Your parents, professors, colleagues and even friends surely talk about ‘connections’ all the time. Have you ever wondered why there is so much emphasis on 'connections' and why they seem so important? To answer that, we must first understand what a connection is. A connection is usually a person who has the ability to assist you in some way, based on their abilities, occupation or other people they know. For example, if you wish to intern at a law firm, having a connection to a lawyer, an executive or a close client of a lawyer, would be a connection that may help you in achieving your goal. Otherwise, you may wish to buy your first home one day and having connections with a realtor and mortgage broker will be great first steps in doing so. Throughout your life, it is likely that you will utilize your connections for both opportunities and convenience. The question I have is: What do connections have to do with university?
Being a student in university, especially one as large and connected as YorkU, there are plenty of opportunities to connect with others. The sheer size of the University implies that the quantity of connections made on campus is much higher than others, while the wide variety of programs on offer means the diversity of connections are unique. However, all connections are not acquired easily or similarly. In University, there are three main types of connections, which you should encounter throughout your undergraduate studies at YorkU.
From Classmate to Connection
It is likely that the people sitting next to you in class may turn into future connections. Whether that classmate uses their degree in the same way as you and enters the same professional field, or one unrelated; the connection you make with them in university will last a lifetime. The long-term benefits are endless! However, there are tremendous short-term benefits as well. Staying in touch with your classmates gives you the opportunity to catch up on missed classes, plan group study sessions, or even talk about course recommendations. Connecting with students who are further along in their academic journey is also critical as they can provide insight and mentorship into the university experience. In the short term, staying connected with your classmates creates benefits for your social life and academic success.
Making connections with other students who are not in your classes, is also valuable to diversify the type of networks you have. To do this, there are plenty of clubs and organizations at YorkU that allow you to build connections. At YorkU there is a club for every interest, pastime, and hobby, which means there is a club for you! Alternatively, you could start your own club and watch the connections come to you. If you do not want to join a club, no worries at all, staying involved with different spirit days and interactive events has never been easier. No matter how you wish to interact with other York Students, a connection is sure to be made, benefiting both your social and professional futures.
Your Professor Today Can Turn into a Connection Tomorrow
Professors are undoubtedly the most important aspect of a positive university experience. They provide us with not only formal education, but also guidance throughout our degree. Having a strong relationship with your professors can open a new world of possibilities and opportunities.
Firstly, professors, over the course of their careers, meet many individuals.. From other professors, to new classes of students every semester, to industry professionals, they themselves have plenty of connections. Thus, professors are the best “middle person” when it comes to making the connection between you and others. Academically, professors can refer you to opportunities within the University, such as research positions or internships, which are both a wonderful experience and look great on your CV. While professionally, they can refer you to employers in your field of interest, for an easier job-finding process.
Secondly, if you wish to pursue further education, or enter a field related to your education, letters of recommendation are critical. For example, I applied to the Socio-Legal MA program at York and one of the entry requirements is to have three letters of recommendation. Of the three, at least two should be academic from faculty which can speak directly to your performance as a student. Luckily, I established connections with professors, early in my academic career, which allowed me to ask them comfortably and confidently for such letters. Making connections with professors is crucial for students who have just started their undergraduate studies and wish to continue their study beyond graduation. Overall, connecting with professors and maintaining a positive student-teacher relationship with them is essential for both your academic and professional success.
Connect with Current Industry Professionals
Over the course of your life, you will make countless connections with individuals in the professional world. By the time you are comfortable in your career, you should be able to call upon connections both from your own industry as well as industries related to yours. However, to really expand your list of connections, starting to make such relationships is critical as early as university. Making connections in university as opposed to waiting until you are in a professional occupation gives you a jump-start on job openings, higher positions, and overall opportunities.
One-way YorkU makes this connection acquisition process particularly easy is by holding multiple career fairs, industry events and open lectures where you can interact with and hear from professionals. Career fairs typically happen at the beginning of each semester, and information on such events can be found on careers.yorku.ca. On that same website, you will also find information about job-listings, recruiting sessions, and career-mentoring programs, each of which offering ample opportunities to make connections.
Get a head start on connecting with future employers and colleagues as early as possible to grow your list of connections.
How Do You Keep Track?
With 21st century technology, keeping track of your connections and staying in contact has never been easier. One media platform that I particularly enjoy using for making and maintaining connections is LinkedIn. This is a free application that allows you to show off your volunteer, academic and professional experiences while also allowing you to highlight your achievements and qualifications. It is the modern-day resume, that is easy to update, share and find by others looking for more information on you. Another great thing about LinkedIn is that it also acts like a typical social media platform, allowing you to follow, post and engage with others’ posts. LinkedIn is the ultimate platform to maintain and build connections completely online. I recommend starting a LinkedIn account as early as high school as this allows you to become familiar with the platform and start building connections as early as possible. That said, starting in university is also beneficial, as you can update your account with past experiences, education, and jobs to create the most complete and current profile.
Overall, the connections you make today will provide significant benefits in the future. Whether making connections with peers, professors, or professionals, you will see that as you move further in your academic and occupational practice, connections come in handy. So, do not wait for opportunities to find you—start building your network today!
My name is Anthony Aquilina and I am a 4th year Criminology Honours student. In the future I plan on attending law school where I can use my skills and passion to advocate for justice. At York, you can find me studying in the library, eating in York Lanes, or at the gym. Outside of academics, I enjoy sports, staying active and all automotive things.
I became interested in Blog writing for LA&PS Voices, as it allows me to share my positive experiences along with some tips and tricks, useful for undergraduate studies at York University. Through my writing, I hope to inspire current and future students to get involved and have fun while completing their degree.