u/Medical_Emu_5653

I really want to get better at networking and maintaining long-term relationships with other people, but I always run into the same wall.

When I meet cool people whether at school, events, or robotics competitions, the initial connection sometimes is great (other times so so lmao 😭). But then weeks or months pass, and I have no idea how to reach out again. Sending a random "Hey, how have you been?" out of nowhere feels awkward and forced to me esp as a highschool student. On the other side, only reaching out when I need something feels way too transactional and fake.

I want to build genuine, long-term familiarity with people in my age group and interest field, but I struggle with the "maintenance" part.

One more thing how do you talk to people you wanna be friends with or just have a conversation with if there's no specific reason to talk to them? (ik compliments can be one way but it sometimes feels way too fake or i guess weird? for me).

Thanks in advance!

hello, im an upcomming 3rd year in FRC, however I have never been on the drive team before and my driver hasnt been picked yet so i cant ask them for what their preferences are and chances are theyre going to be a freshmen.

im most likely going to be drive coach this upcoming season and i just wanted to ask if there are any tips as to like what to call out, how you communicate with other teams (from what ive seen the space between the teams in the alliance station is huge so wouldnt it be hard to communicate with them during the match?), how to make strategic calls, how to understand your driver and their habits, and like what makes a good drive coach, etc.

additionally, ive mostly been stuck in pits and im socially awkward (overthinking and not knowing what to say), so i havent gotten a chance to talk to other teams as much, but i want to try and start "networking" a little more and like maintaining the familiarity with other teams esp after comp. i know how to initiate a conversation without being weird but like the process of casually talking to them after like for example if you had to talk to them because you have a match or like their team or wtv idk how to like casually talk to and approach them after the reason i need to talk to them is gone. also how do some of yall genuinely get other peoples socials so easily? 😭 im not tryna be weird about stuff like this i just genuinely want to make more friends and be more social for my last year.