We were standing with two suitcases in the corner of the ballroom. They weren’t our suitcases, they were my son’s. Our job was to keep them company until he had checked in to the All National Music Conference at which point we would say our goodbyes until the concert three days later. [More on that experience in another blog]

The ballroom was literally swarming with high school students, hundreds of them. Nearby to where we were guarding suitcases, a young woman was sitting by herself on the floor with her own suitcases and studying her music.

Another student came over and introduced herself to the young woman sitting nearby. “Hi”, she said, “are you shy like I am? I don’t know anyone here but thought I would just say hello”. The next thing we knew, the two music students were deep in conversation about their high schools, their music experiences and much much more.

I couldn’t help but think what we had just observed was the high school equivalent of that awkward networking cocktail party where you don’t know anyone in the room. We have all been in that uncomfortable position and have had to learn how to maximize the awkward experience. This young music student has already mastered this skill. She figured out to walk over to someone who was also alone and strike up a conversation. It works every time. A networking reminder for all of us.