How to form strong relationships for academic success. – Brock Press
Photo by Jason Goodman on Unsplash
Dapo Babajide
Whether you are naturally introverted or extroverted, there are many benefits of building friendships and relationships while studying. In general, the university is a social place and courses and seminars are great places to network.
Everyone has heard a variation of the saying: “Sometimes it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” This also applies during your studies, because communicating with other students in your own courses and seminars can improve your studies and facilitate the completion of academic work. Since the pandemic, every student has studied and changed, either entirely online or in a hybrid environment, for the last two years, but beginning in the fall 2022 semester, Brock University is preparing for a full return to campus. Building great relationships with fellow students, professors, and teaching assistants is not just an end in itself
The “how to” aspect of relationship building is very simple and straightforward. It is advisable to introduce yourself to the next person either before the lecture or seminar begins, during a break or after the lecture. Asking questions like their name, where they’re from, and what their major is is a great “textbook” way of getting to know people. Questions like these are likely to be answered. Afterward, you may find yourself with a course partner with whom you can exchange questions and notes, or with whom you can be a study partner.
Not to mention that building relationships can help build study groups outside of seminars and classes, which can be more efficient and interesting than studying alone and doing the coursework. Communication with peers is also important, because there are often course-specific group chats on various social media that are not affiliated with the university. In these group chats, a lot of information about the course is passed around, for example, a student can recommend a YouTube video that helps with an assignment problem, etc. This is also a great way for someone to share their coursework ideas with other classmates. Just make sure you don’t break any rules when it comes to things like academic integrity and other course policies. Sharing ideas and thoughts is usually okay, but cheating is definitely not.
Strong communication and good relationships are important not only with fellow students, but also with professors, teaching assistants, and academic advisors. Although the goal is not to harass or irritate the faculty, it is advisable for every student to use their professor’s office hours wisely to engage with lecture topics and other study-related matters. Emailing a teaching assistant about difficult assignments and communicating with one’s academic advisor about long-term academic goals are also excellent ways to ensure academic success. Every single one of these things shows the students’ passion for their courses. They also ensure that a student has the best understanding they can get in any of their courses.
All in all, building relationships with others and communicating well between colleagues, professors, and TAs are the best ways to stay on top and stay focused on your courses. Although university courses, labs, and seminars are primarily designed to learn and discuss new topics, they are also places where ideas can be exchanged and one another’s minds can be brightened even further.
Relationship building and constant communication is the best way to succeed as a new student. Anyone who meets people and involves them in lectures, seminars and the like will always have academic success.