Access and Connection
I pick up the phone and call again, the fourth time I’ve tried to reach these people. I call three more numbers and it rings and rings. The next morning, I am doing an interview across town, and I run into someone from another office, set up an interview. When I’m doing these interviews now, I ask people for recommendations of who else to talk to, and people make suggestions that lead places, to new appointments. After months of struggling to meet people and explain my project, it’s a revelation to have the pieces coming together so easily.
The truth is, one of the most unexpectedly challenging parts of this Fulbright year has been making connections and gaining access to schools where I could do my research. I knew it would be difficult, but never imagined just how hard. Just figuring out who to talk to, which offices to visit, where to call, took days. And then getting over my own nervousness took time too, getting better at cold calling places, explaining myself and my project, and making apointments with people.
I’ve been thinking about writing up a piece on gaining access as a graduate, Fulbright or other researcher. I’ve learned a few things in these months that could be helpful for others. Indeed, as I think about it more, really anyone doing a creative, self-promoted project has to go through this rite of passage of making themselves known, talking to a lot of people, getting enough buy-in that people will talk to you. Maybe the things I’ve learned could help others.
***
What have been your experiences with gaining access or making connections? How long have you found it takes in a new place? What advice would you give for people trying to figure it out for the first time?