Introductions at University
First Blog Post- Introductions at University
“Hey my name is Yael, I grew up in Toronto, I am in the faculty of Arts and hope to major in Political Science. I live in Place Vanier, and a fun fact about me is that I love sports”. I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to say this exact speech since coming to UBC. Teachers ask me to say this when I’m introducing myself to the class, and when I am talking to someone for the first time these facts are almost brought up right away in the conversation.
According to research done by Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, “[people] seek similarity because it makes for smoother, more pleasant interaction” (http://tinyurl.com/oh7xzow). And according to Professor Frank Bernieri of Oregon State University, and reported by Rosie Ifould for The Guardian, first impressions are “fundamental drivers of our relationships” (http://tinyurl.com/p2n3got). So when I considered that these simple and shallow parts of me are the essence of the first impressions I’m leaving on other people, I was not quite satisfied. I have found that I always end up talking to someone in the same residence as me, for example, and it is frustrating that the information we are accustomed to presenting ourselves in university rarely leaves room for finding more personal similarities, and potential friendships in the future.
One of the best questions that I have been asked so far was by my TA for Political Science. He asked us to explain when introducing ourselves one of the reasons why we chose to be in CAP. I thought that this was a question that demonstrated my classmate’s values and deeper thinking, and I got to know them even better. I think teachers and fellow students could take this example, and apply it to all introductions we have to make in the upcoming years. I also would challenge people in the upcoming weeks of university to rethink the first impressions of people they have in their minds, and maybe try and reintroduce yourself to people you have alrea dy talked to.
Work Cited:
Ifould, Rosie. “Acting on Impulse.” The Guardian. March 7 2009. <http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/mar/07/first-impressions-snap-decisions-impulse>.
SAGE Publications. “With more choice, friends are more similar, but not closer.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 22 September 2011. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110922093313.htm>.
Hi Yael
I know exactly what you’re talking about because I have the same TA. Perhaps it does say something about commonalities bringing people together.
I agree that his question (“Why did you choose CAP?”) is excellent. As you’ve already pointed out, it invites us to share our thought process—more than just superficial facts about ourselves. I want to offer an additional reason on why it’s good.
His question combines two desirable traits: being an open-ended question, which keeps the conversation going because open-ended questions encourage dialogue; and building on a common ground that everybody in the room shares. All students in the tutorial has gone through the process of deciding to take CAP, so everyone has something to say. The introduction worked well, and we ended up having a lively discussion session.
It may be an observation specific to a particular experience, but I’m sure it can be applied to many other situations. For example, in today’s world where almost everyone can produce a life narrative and make it public, what makes some works stand out more than others? Could it be the ability to find something common with the readers’ own lives, no matter who they are?
Jeff Ho