Finding Common Ground with Strangers

Today, I had a random conversation with an intern from a popular private university here in the city. I started the conversation because I wanted to teach my intern teammates how to engage with strangers. During our chat, I discovered that we both speak the same dialect, Kinaray-a. As we continued talking, I realized we shared similar frustrations—dealing with unqualified teachers and the realization that college often teaches shallow knowledge. The intern mentioned they were planning to pursue a career in computer science, and we had a fun, open discussion.

But then it hit me. I felt lucky that I didn’t have to spend a ridiculous amount of money to experience the foolishness of bad teachers. They paid tuition fees only to be stuck with poor-quality education, which felt more painful for them than for me. I realized that my own experience, though not perfect, wasn’t as bad as theirs—and they had to pay for it.

From this conversation, I learned two important things. First, sometimes it’s worth talking to strangers. You never know, they might share similar feelings of being out of place or shy, and by approaching them, you can start a meaningful conversation. It’s essential to make people feel comfortable. That’s when you discover common ground and connect.

Secondly, engaging with strangers is a great exercise in improving your confidence. You learn from people, get new realizations, and it can make your life a little bit more interesting and worth sharing. We’re all going to die one day, and these small interactions can add some depth to our experiences.