My classes are noisy and I like it that way – students talk to each other because we make socializing in person a priority of learning.

• Each week, we start by making a new friend – go over to them and start a conversation (and believe me, it’s tough to stop them).
• Smiles increase, happiness skyrockets and participation grows.
• One student talked about the harrowing position of attending a wedding where people who don’t know each other – start the evening, dine together and end it without ever talking.
• Almost always, the person who reaches out to another first is rewarded with a sigh of relief and an interesting conversation.

For everyone else, today would be a great day to unlock the power of breaking the ice with someone you don’t know.