"In the best conversations, you don't even remember what you talked about, only how it felt. It felt like we were in some place your body can't visit, some place with no ceiling and no walls and no floor and no instruments." - John Green
Perhaps you're trying to channel your inner extrovert or just looking to make those group assignments a bit less awkward.
Either way, here's a guide of questions to use in any situation that will reveal a bit more about your friends and future inner circle! From coffee shops to walks between classes, get to know who you're around. Everyone, everywhere knows something that you don't—how cool is that?
1. What was your first job?
Fairly self-explanatory, but a revealing question nonetheless. Learn if it was a family business, a simple summer gig or something completely random.
2. If you had to have dinner with any person dead or alive, who would it be?
All answers to this are sure to spur something and leave you with new knowledge about the person who's answering.
3. If you had one month to yourself, what would you do?
Travel? Escape to the beach? Become a reindeer herder?
4. If you could acquire any skill overnight with no training necessary, what would it be?
No doubt, mine would be the ability to speak every language. Perhaps play every instrument? Develop a cure for disease?
5. What were your career goals when you were growing up?
From 5-year-old authors to 30-year-old financial advisors, find out your friends' goal transformations!
6. Explain why you love your favorite holiday.
We all love a little Christmas time comfort, but what makes it so special?
7. If you had the ability to build any dream home you could imagine, where would it be and what would it look like?
Ranch style? Wrap around porch? Mountains? Beach? Suburbs? City?
8. Who is someone you look up to?
Answers will range from Beyoncé to Elon Musk to Gandhi. Embrace the diversity.
9. What's your favorite way to waste time?
Personally, I can maneuver my way through Ellen reruns on Facebook better than most. Also, I have a slight addiction to the blind auditions of The Voice. Hopefully, the answers you receive are a bit better than mine.
10. If you were able to live in another time period, what would you choose?
Think about the big picture! The past is a bit glamorized but is devoid of many human rights we hold today. The future is promising, but a bit daunting.
Well, hopefully, these will help you to spur some real-life conversation. Getting to know the people around us will ultimately allow us to be more empathetic and interesting individuals.
Jacqueline
