This is one of the most important assignments you will do for the Success Skills portion of the program. BUT… it’s also the most fun!
Standing up and introducing yourself is an important skill to have, but doing it is stressful and, lets be honest here, also a bit boring. We don’t know what other people find interesting about us. Some of us think we do, and we blather on and on about it (I’ve been single a very long time and have witnessed a whole bunch of boring blather, so trust me on this). So, you are going to interview each other (meaning: have a conversation) and introduce each other. It takes off a BUNCH of the stress, and you make a new friend. Win/win!! Here’s how it works:
On Tuesday:
- You will be paired with a classmate of my choosing. This will not be someone you already know.
- You will sit down and have a 20 minute (maybe a little more) conversation. Just make sure you each have time to tell your story.
- Be sure you take good notes!!!!! You don’t want to get up to present and have to ask their dogs name.
- You will tell your usual story (I’m XX years old, have 3 sisters, 2 dogs, and a squirrel named Bruno). Then tell a funny story. Or a weird story. Or a stupid story. Or something you did when you were 12. Tell a story or two to your partner that you don’t mind the rest of the class hearing. If the two of you start talking, just go with it. This part is whatever works for you and gets the job done.
- Ask your partner questions about their story. Ask them about Bruno the squirrel. Ask about anything they have said that you find interesting. Whatever you find interesting about your partner, the rest of us will probably find interesting too. Dig it out of them.
- You will find four (4) things the two of you have in common. You may not cheap out and say that you are both interested in IT, go to UALR, like the Razorbacks, and enjoy video games – because DUH. Most of the folks in your class can also say these things, so you may not use them. Don’t worry about this though – your commonalities will come out during your conversation. And if you can find weird things in common, all the better (we both enjoy reading Stephen King books in the bathtub while wearing a beer hat).
- If you get to the end of the exercise and want to visit more, exchange contact information (a real live phone call is best so you can hear their tone) and call each other up to fill in any blanks as you prepare your presentation.
On Thursday:
- Each team member will introduce their partner to the class. You have a time limit of three (3) minutes, so please practice with a timer.
- You will follow this outline:
- 30 seconds – General info about your partner (name, age (if they want to give it), where they live, kids, relationship status, major, junior/senior). Just make sure they are okay with the personal information you give.
- 1.5 – 2 minutes – Tell us a story. Just one good story because you won’t have time for more! Make it the most interesting thing they told you (in your opinion).
- 30 – 45 seconds – TWO (2) of the things you found you have in common. Save the other two things you have in common for your partner to tell us in their presentation. If you find more than four things in common (this is very normal), pick a few more and divide them equally between the two of you.
- If you are a nervous speaker, I suggest you go early. It helps.
That’s it! Have a great conversation, make a new friend, take good notes, follow the outline, practice with a timer.
I can’t wait to get to know you all!
