Reform at JMU: communication

Walking inside a class, you have two choices: you can either walk in with a straight face, not smile at those you make eye contact with, take a seat and not greet your neighbor. If this routine continues every class period, and you never make the effort to get to know the person sitting next to you, you may have missed out on knowing someone who may have even become your best friend.
Does this sound familiar? Upon coming to JMU, one of the greatest things I missed was the fact that in high school, you’re bound to get to know everyone or almost everyone in class. The class has a certain mood, made up of the different personalities of the individuals who make up the class. Although JMU is definitely has one of the friendliest environments I’ve experienced, there is still a lack of communication, a disconnect between people.
A psychology professor here at JMU presented during the last Make Your Mark on Madison meeting that when he asked several of his classes at the end of one semester if they knew even the name of their neighbor, only a few raised their hand. And from my observations, I find that true in pretty much all of my classes. We students just walk in and out of class without actually making some real connection, some communication with others.
This is something that greatly needs reform. Sure, we’re all busy in our lives, have our own issues, but shouldn’t we all make an effort to get to know others around us? Time flies. Before we know it, these four years will have flown by. Maybe at the end of it all, we may just regret not knowing enough people. And you never know how much you can learn by engaging in one conversation with someone. By not even attempting to get to others, it’s almost as if we disregard their existence. This may sound far-fetched, but it’s true. When you continually just crumple around in your own little world and never make conversation with the very person right next to you, what else could this act be called, but utter disregard?
Sure, sometimes you may not receive a friendly response. That may just put you down altogether. But you never know until you try.
So come out of your comfort zone. Talk to someone who’ve never said a word to before—see what you can learn.