Why We Teach Social Excellence (College Edition)

Updated: Oct 25, 2022

There are far too many strangers in our world.

Even some of the people closest to us feel like strangers.

We live on the surface of each others' lives. We barely know each other.

We chit-chat. We keep it safe.

Meanwhile, we're lonely. Especially college students.

We don't feel seen, heard, or known.

We are desperately longing for a true connection.

Isn't it strange that colleges are supposed to be these places full of friendships, fun, and connection... and yet so many students are experiencing loneliness, boredom, and disconnection?

Now add on another layer...

College is the time when so many students realize that they want to make a difference in our world.

They want to effect change.

They want to rally around a cause and make the world a better place.

But so many college students find themselves alone in their apartments, desperately posting and texting about what they wish the world would be...

We've been teaching this message called Social Excellence for almost 10 years now.

We wrote a book on it.

There are some TED talks about it.

There's a podcast about it.

And we teach it to tens of thousands of people every year.

I want to explain why we teach this message.

Listen closely to this little bit of truth:

Your ability to connect determines your ability to gather. And your ability to gather determines your ability to impact the world.

Did you catch that? It's important.

We believe that if we can help college students understand how to build real human connections THAT will give them the skills and mindset they need to connect with other students AND gather their peers together around causes that matter to them.

And WE KNOW that the best way to make a meaningful impact on the world - the best way to effect change - is to gather people together around causes that matter.

Your ability to connect determines your ability to gather. And your ability to gather determines your ability to impact the world.

Social Excellence is a philosophy... it is a lifestyle... it is a set of beliefs and habits that lead to more friendships, less loneliness, happier college students, more prepared citizens, and a better world.

Stay Excellent y'all,