OPINION: Don't Network, Connect

By Diego Garcia

Every year, California’s best and brightest high school juniors assemble under appointment by the American Legion. For an entire week, days become 26 hours; fictional cities turn into nationalistic identities; lifelong friendships may be forged.

On paper, we’re here to learn about the practical operations of the American government

and develop leadership skills. And while some are motivated by the last-minute résumé boost, and others by the thrill of being away from home, only one factor truly merits wearing the same shirt for an entire week. That is, beyond a firm grasp of governmental operations, California Boys and Girls State provides today’s youth with something arguably better than the program’s content alone: each other.

Networking is the very foundation of relevance and opportunity, and it seems that hundreds of delegates have already adopted this political dogma. On the first day alone, enough handshakes were exchanged to develop a new disease; names, small-talk, and discreet agendas seemed to line every conversation. I began to wonder: did I really smell good, or did that guy from Sloat need a filing fee?  Was that DA nominee truly curious about my hometown–or sniffing out possible opponents?

When it comes to networking, the hardest part isn’t building the confidence to speak up, or even having the audacity to ask favors from strangers. It’s being genuine.

Photos by Daniel Carson and Alvin Lam

I’m a firm believer that it’s not what you know that gets you places–it’s who you know. I’d go even further: it’s how you know who you know.  Anyone can shake hands, but how much does someone’s name and hometown truly reveal?  If, by the end of a brief conversation, you can’t remember the name of the person you just spoke to, you aren’t networking–you’re wasting your time.

We’re all bright students, and we all live in California.  We’ll probably be applying to the same schools and pursuing the same fields.  I’m not saying don’t meet new people or grow your contact list.  But maybe–just maybe–make peace with the concept of a friend, not just someone who might serve you in the near future.

Ask someone a fun fact, what they think about certain issues, or their taste in music.  In a camp with 1,000 delegates, it can be hard to meet a person.  But if you take a second to stop networking and actually connect with your peers, I promise–they’re there.