It's Not About What You Know, But Who You Know by Rahn

It's Not About What You Know, But Who You Know by Rahn - August 2017 Scholarship Essay

Networking, many people don't realize that this is the most important skill that you can have when it comes to any field. Schools try to teach you about science, math, history, English and many other classes that have some importance but without knowing how to talk to people those classes get you nowhere. Networking allows anyone not just a college student to excel in life and that’s why as a professor I would want to teach it.

Personally, I have used networking to open multiple opportunities for myself up. Without connection, you can’t get ahead in life. You can be the most knowledgeable about math but if you can’t communicate with another person and make them into a contact that you can use for future jobs than it won’t matter how much math you know. One of my pet peeves when I was interning at the Ultimate Fighting Championship was when I saw another intern come in and just go through the motions every day, not taking the opportunity to talk to every person in that office who could help them one day with a letter of recommendation or a connection to another business that they want to work in. As a college student, intern, or employee you must always look to expanding your phone book and taking advantage of taking to people who can move you up in the world. Being scared is an excuse.

Everyone is afraid of talking to people that they don’t know but the second you put yourself out there and have a conversation with someone you have made a connection and your network has just expanded. That one person might know another person, who might know another person and so on and so forth but these people are how you will one day be successful. Whenever I get the chance to talk to someone important at the UFC or in the sports industry I jump on that opportunity as I know it will one day lead to a job in the sports industry. Teaching people to connect with others and network as much as possible is more important than anything that will be taught in school.

I believe that if you don’t truly put yourself out there and connect with others than you will never succeed as there is always someone out there who knows more people than you who will get the job that maybe you’re more qualified for but that person had a connection and that’s why I believe teaching how to network is the most important subject that can be taught.