Build+Relationships

In order to be successful in a LIMS cohort at Chicago State University, you should be willing and able to build relationships with both your professors and classmates.
 * One of the best ways to help ensure your success in a cohort program is to build relationships. The nature of a cohort is that you will be working closely with and relying on your classmates as well as professors. There is much to be gained through these positive relationships. Above all, always conduct yourself with decorum and professionalism. Not only are you a reflection of yourself but also of your school, students and the librarian profession. There will certainly be times when you find yourself frustrated with discussion in class, deadlines, or administrative issues within the university. This can't be helped, but the way in which you behave towards others will directly impact the willingness of others to help you or make accommodations. **** Be willing to share personal tidbits about yourself professionally and personally in order to help cultivate these relationships. Don't forget to ask others about themselves rather than only talking about yourself. Even if you are a shy or private person by nature, you will see that building these relationships will be for your benefit. **
 * There of course, are many rewards to relationship building within the cohort. One such benefit is having people who understand what you are going through and can both commiserate and celebrate successes with you. Another added reward is having more resources at your fingertips. Building a professional network of other school librarians can help all students if we are sharing our ideas and practices with each other. Positive relationships with professors can have their own specific benefits. Your professor will be more likely to extend assignment deadlines or make changes to the syllabus if you have a personal conflict/illness if they have a friendly relationship with you. You are also more likely to get more out of your coursework if you have built a relationship because you will be able to add your own input to the class' topics. Finally, it is likely that you will take another course taught by that same professor later on in the program, and you want all secondary courses to be enjoyable. **
 * On the other side of the spectrum, there are definite drawbacks when you neglect to build positive relationships with your peers and instructors. If you have not taken steps to be pleasant, professional, and friendly, it is likely that people will not "go the extra mile" for you. At some point in your course work you are likely to hit a roadblock or problem, and you don't want to find yourself alone in it. There will be times when you will need to work cooperatively with classmates and you do not want to find yourself in a situation where you are mistrusted and no one wants to work with you. You may also be missing out on vital information about the program or profession that someone else could have shared with you if you had just reached out with some friendly words to say "hi!". By the same token, if you are doing well and are on top of your work, and you notice that someone else has been absent or is floundering a bit, it's always helpful to reach out to your cohort member with a friendly email or phone call. Just like at work, where your boss may value the employee who makes the success of the entire team a priority, good things will come to you in the academic environment when you help the overall success of the cohort. **

**From MaryKay**:

===**I've read your 'Best Practice' statement, Amy, and I agree wholeheartedly with you. Sometimes we can get caught up in the hardships of our health or daily personal relationships, or the rigor of our work... but one's outlook and way of presenting ourselves should always be on a professional level. We will inevitably have setbacks and trying times in our lives. If we do not build positive and friendly relationships in our lives, only bitterness will prevail. The points you made can be woven into the pathways to any of our dreams....**=== ===**On the other hand,that is not to say the we should not question practices that hinder our academic progress in this program. If one is having a problem with administration, the route to take should always be open dialogue, in my opinion. If we consider ourselves a cog in the wheel of progress, great things can be accomplish ed. **===