First impressions

According to the skinny blonde star, Velma, in the 2007 remake of Broadway’s Hairspray, “First impressions can be tough…”

The fake twit’s song and dance number regarding her previous popularity and good looks really strikes home with current college students, as we are all aware of what a first impression will or will not do.

It can make or break your job interview, get you a second date, increase your confidence and even affect your personality.

First impressions happen in an instant. It takes a tenth of a second to make a first impression, says the Association for Psychological Science. Within that tenth of a second of our examining fellow classmates and roommates, we focus on attractiveness, likeability, competence, trustworthiness and aggressiveness. It may sound shallow, but it’s human nature. Even if you say you do not care what others think of you, everyone you meet will still be judging you.

In order to make a great first impression, first think on how you would like to be viewed. I believe you should be yourself or become the person you want to be. If people are making assumptions about every new person they meet within the first tenth of a second they lay eyes on you, there really is no use pretending to be someone you are not. There literally is no time for it.

Dress professionally or dress in your favorite sweat pants. There is a reason some of us take a little bit longer to get dressed on the first day of class and while others could care less. Most people want others to like them. This should go without saying. The problem is that people tend to forget to act in the way they want to be viewed.

To be quite truthful, if you do not make a significant first impression people will not remember you or you could be remembered for the wrong reasons.

If you have no friends and cannot find a job, you may want to take a look in your personality mirror and then in your actual mirror. The quote “You will never get another chance to make a second first impression” runs pretty deep in today’s fast-paced world.

First impressions are important, especially for those meeting new people, starting new careers and standing out in this competitive world.