Interpersonal skills are the behaviors and tactics used to interact with others in an effective way. When I first started college, I was unintentionally the most introverted I've ever been. JMU was not my top school, and I let this affect my attitude towards coming to college of not looking forward to it and making the effort I should have when meeting new people. However, when I realized the position I had put myself in, almost a full year into college, I started making every effort possible into meeting new people, building relationships, and making the most out of my college experience.
My sophomore year, I joined the American Marketing Association and Scratch Pad. Although I found both of these clubs super interesting, and I was excited to be a new member, I dreaded going to these meetings at first. I didn't know anyone going into the meetings, and wouldn't have anybody familiar to sit with, so I started forcing myself to introduce myself to any new person I sat next to. Just a few weeks of this made going to meetings so much more enjoyable. I realized that it wasn't so hard, and I started doing this in my classes too. This helped so much with feeling more comfortable in class for group work, having people to text for help with homework assignments, and building relationships with people I might have in succeeding classes.
My first career fair was terrifying. I had no idea how to sell myself as a sophomore who had no real business experience, how was I supposed to convince an employer that I would be a good candidate for an internship when I hadn't thought so myself? I decided to "fake it til I made it" and walked up to the first booth that caught my eye. With a shaky voice and a firm handshake, I introduced myself and started talking about my coursework, leadership roles, and the skills I was developing as a member of AMA. To my surprise, the recruiter was genuinely interested. As the conversation flowed, I realized that confidence wasn’t about having all the answers - it was about showing enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.
By the end of the fair, I had several promising leads, and one of them turned into my first internship offer. That experience taught me the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone and trusting in the value I could bring, even if I didn’t have years of experience under my belt.
This past summer, I worked as a sales intern at an insurance agency. When I first signed up for the marketing major and heard about the sales concentration route, I immediately thought sales wouldn't be of my interest. No way do I have the personality for sales - I'm not assertive, extroverted, or a seller! However, when this opportunity came up, I had a great conversation with a recruiter, and my future employer, and decided that it was worth trying out, even if I decided I wouldn't like it. In this internship, I gained so many valuable insights into how to sell, how to make a customer want to hear you out, and how to build genuine connections with clients. I learned that sales isn’t about being pushy or aggressive - it’s about understanding the customer’s needs, building trust, and offering solutions that truly add value. This experience not only helped me step out of my comfort zone but also reshaped my perspective on what it takes to succeed in a sales role. Because I took a chance on this role, I earned my insurance producer's license in personal & commercial lines, and learned extremely valuable insights into the insurance industry.
I used to have a crippling fear of public speaking. However, as I began to do more things that scared me, I started to build confidence and realize that fear often stems from the unknown, or lack of experience of doing so. During my semester abroad, my faculty-member-in-residence happened to be the College of Business' Associate Dean. The following spring, she gave me the opportunity to speak at the Atlantic Union Bank Center about my study abroad and College of Business experiences at CHOICES events in the spring. CHOICES events are held for newly admitted students and their families to learn about all of the wonderful opportunities and resources that JMU has to offer. These events are very popular, and have HUGE attendance numbers, but I decided to take a chance on myself, and speak. I had so many good things to say about the College of Business, so I faced my fears, and it went off without a hitch. I now get the frequent opportunity to connect with many more prospective students and their families as a new member of the COB Student Advisory Council.
Now, as I reflect on all the relationships I've made throughout the past few years in college, I know the people around me have shaped me into the person I am today. I sat next to a fellow sophomore at one of my first American Marketing Association meetings, who would have thought she'd be my best friend and the future President, while I'd serve as her Vice President? Never in a million years would I have said yes to speaking in front of 500 families in the Atlantic Union Bank Center about MY experiences. I am so grateful for these experiences and will continue to take every opportunity possible to further develop my interpersonal skills.
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