Navigating Your Personal and Professional Growth, ARSC 20003 taught by Lynn Meade, teaching associate professor, is a course designed to teach students important life skills. Meade said, "I designed this course to teach students those skills crucial to success such as interpersonal development, community connection, leadership, and networking.  It occurred to me that we often teach students to have career conversations but rarely teach them to have conversations. I wanted to teach them a skill that could last a lifetime." 

Parker Hurst wrote of her experience, "This class gave me frameworks for approaching conversations with curiosity rather than pressure, which made small talk feel more natural at the event. I wasn't focused on saying the perfect thing or impressing anyone - instead, I was focused on being present, asking thoughtful questions, and letting the conversation unfold organically. 

In the class, students practiced weekly how to start and engage in meaningful small talk. Which led up to their final project where they had to engage in casual conversation for 45 minutes. To make the experience authentic, she booked an event room in the Cordia Harrington Center for Excellence, had the event catered by Briar Rose Bakery, and had 16 university student success professionals on hand to mix with the students.  

Will Pyburn, a student in the class wrote, "Before the event, I always saw networking as a chore. It always felt fake or artificial. Before, it seemed like the goal of networking was purely to use the person you were speaking to for personal gain or opportunities, but it is so much more than that. Networking, while it is extremely beneficial for things such as opportunities, can be enjoyable and can help you build your own sense of community." 

Meade said, "That goal of the event is to teach students to make meaningful connections. True networking is as much about giving as it is about getting. It is essential to train students to be good communicators so they can thrive as individuals and as professionals."

Navigating Your Personal and Professional Growth is offered to all majors and is one of several arts and sciences courses designed to help students become career ready.   

After attending the event, students wrote about their experience. Hurst wrote, "After attending the event, I feel more confident and open to networking. It no longer feels like a transactional thing, but rather a human one-a way to learn, share, and grow together with others on similar (or even very different) journeys. What used to feel intimidating now feels more like an opportunity to connect with people who each bring their own stories, insights, and energy to the conversation. Instead of focusing on what I needed to "get" from the interaction, I started focusing on what I could give- whether that was genuine interest, encouragement, or even just a good conversation. The small shift helped take the pressure off and made each interaction feel more authentic and enjoyable."