Does who you know matter more than what you know?
FOX Business argues that who you know is more important because knowledge is only valuable if you have somewhere to support you. Networking is more important than ever with the rise of social media outlets geared towards professional life. It’s also an indicator to employers that you have good people skills. The main point can be summed up as: being liked pays off. (Source)
Another article suggests the opposite. Instead of you looking for other people, people will come looking for you directly if you have something compelling. Social media such as Linkedin allow for easier connections to be made. “In this new world of abundant capital, easy access to information and people with knowledge, it’s what you know rather than who you know.” (Source)
There is a whole spectrum of differing opinions on this debate of networking vs. knowledge, but they tend to look at it in the context of a professional career. How about in the context of a high school student? What should you be focusing on right now?
Who you know
The relations that I’ve built within and outside of school have been priceless. It’s hard to measure just how valuable social relations are, because it’s all the small things that they do that matter too. They act as emotional supports, as givers of wisdom or people who you can just have a good time with. On the other hand, they can also tell you about exciting opportunities, connect you with other people they know and vouch for you.
Here’s an real-life example: Nazifa Rahman was recently named AFP Calgary’s Outstanding Youth Philanthropist. What makes the following video powerful is not only her achievements, but the evidence of her positive relationships with people she’s encountered. Giang from Youth Central, Rae from the the Ability Society, and Ms. Hooper from Crescent Heights all recount their experiences with this individual.
In this sense, the relationships that you build now with your peers, your teachers and other members of the community matter a lot. I cannot emphasize enough the times I felt grateful that people were there for me and how I’ve been able to go further because of their support. In short, your current actions will leave a lasting impression on those you interact with – try to make those impressions positive.
What you know
I’m not going to evaluate the value of “what you know” solely based on school performance, but all the skills and talents that high school students also possess. Just because you get high grades does not automatically mean that you will be successful. Just because you don’t do so well in school, does not mean you’re a failure. With that out of the way, how important is what you know?
Knowledge is not simply knowing dates or solving equations. Knowledge is something that will continue to grow for the rest of your life as you face new experiences. We all learn about academics within school, but we also learn about our identity – who are we? We learn from our successes and failures, from speaking to the young and the old, and by stepping outside of our comfort zones.
Knowledge is power and you should make the most out of it. You may be talented in cinematography – make a film. You may have leadership skills – mobilize people and make a difference. You may have gone through or continue to go through tough times – let them make you stronger for the future instead dragging you down. Each person sees the same world in a different way, but each piece of knowledge will broaden your horizons and add depth to the understanding of yourself and others.
It would be a mistake to believe that you can rely solely on others in order to get far in life, you need to have your own ambitions too. On the flip side, it also limits you if you focus solely on what you know, but have no regard for your relationships.
Conclusion
Imagine success as a giant puzzleboard and knowledge as the puzzle pieces.
Puzzle pieces have sides that attach to other pieces, and spaces for other people to fit into. This represents how you have gaps in your knowledge that others can fill. Your knowledge is equally important because other people will have a need for it.
Looking at it this way, I can conclude that who you know and what you know are closely interrelated and that you won’t get far just by focusing on one aspect. On their own, there’ll be lots of pieces laying around. You need connect both in order to see the bigger picture.
