Melissa Allen
I attended a meet and greet with the mayor at the public policy institute. I wore a nice suit and made sure to look both professional and approachable. My goal was to mingle with people I did not know very well and form connections with others at the event. I found that having mutual friends introduce me to a new person was the most comfortable way for me to begin meaningful conversations. I had quite a few lengthy conversations on various issues with others at the event, including the mayor, on topics such as feminism, intersectionality, minority representation, and a fantastic cheese platter. Next time I would like to be more confident about introducing myself rather than going through someone I knew.
