msuCatalyst →

By Megan Gebhart

It's spring break season, so chances are high that'll you'll be flying, driving or hitchhiking somewhere warmer, snowier, or closer to the ocean than where you are now. During the break, you're bound to run into strangers, so here's my advice: say hi. Your mom might tell you something different, but I'm not your mom. I’m actually someone that flies frequently. I’m from Wyoming so at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a few other times throughout the year, I pack my bags, wave goodbye to MSU and make my way to the airport.

Have you ever been surrounded by people but felt completely alone? Ok, now add that to the feeling of being herded like cattle as a flight attendant directs you on and then off an airplane. Flying solo can be lonely. So to break up the monotony, I like to talk to other passengers—it’s a great way to make the flight more enjoyable and you never know when a conversation might turn into a valuable business connection or new friendship. Last spring break, I decided to strike up a conversation with the person sitting across the aisle from me. He looked about college age, so I figured we could find at least one thing in common, right? Turns out we had a lot in common, so much in fact that we spent the next two hours talking about everything from how we like our classes to the Duke Lacrosse scandal. At the end of the flight, we exchanged contact information and have since become good friends. You never know who you'll have sitting next to you and there's only one way to find out.

Are you too afraid to strike up a conversation with a stranger? Remember this:

1. The guy or girl sitting next to you is probably too afraid to strike up a conversation too.
2. When you are friendly towards someone, 99% of the time that friendliness is returned.
3. The likelihood of running into this person again is slim, so if you make a fool of yourself you can pop in your head phones until the flight is over, get off the plane, and move on with your life.

So what do you say?

1. For starters, just say hi!
2. I like to break the ice by asking where their final destination is and why they are traveling.
3. Then keep the conversation going by asking open-ended questions!
4. But, have a way out. Get out a magazine or some homework so if the conversation isn't going well, you'll have something to do and can politely end the conversation.
5. Seal the deal! Did you like the person enough to stay in contact? Ask for a business card or see if they are on Facebook and would like to be friends.

Still nervous about asking? Do it anyways! This is a great networking opportunity!

My brother recently flew out to Seattle for a trip and started talking to the guy next to him. Turns out, the guy owns a small investment business in Seattle. It might not sound too exciting to you, but my brother is graduating from college in three months, so any networking connection is a valuable one.

I had another friend fly to Paris and the same thing happened. The guy sitting next to her worked for Deloitte and by the end of the flight she had secured a job interview for the next week!

Business people fly a lot, which means there could be an amazing connection sitting next to you. An upper level manager from your dream company could be across the aisle, which means you would have two hours of face-to-face time with him! Or it might be an incredibly nice grandma with cute stories to share, or a hilarious man who keeps you laughing the entire flight.

The bottom line is that there are awesome people to meet on airplanes—or in your hotel, sitting near you at the beach,  in the coffee shop, in the ski lodge…

So say hi!

If you meet anyone interesting over spring break, make sure to tell us about it in the comments