My cheeks stung and each breath condensed into water vapor in the cold Albuquerque morning air.

A stream of negative thoughts flew through my mind as I waited to cross the street to get to the conference center. I questioned my own abilities and leadership as a first-year physical therapy student in the presence of the ambitious and successful attendees at the 2019 APTA National Student Conclave.

When the crosswalk light turned green, my forward motion quieted the negative thoughts and put them in the back of my mind. The fears were quickly replaced with excitement as I made my way forward. Instead of fear, I felt confidence. Confidence in my ability to travel to new places, build a network of friends and professional connections, and create opportunities for myself from these connections.

You may be asking yourself, why should I network?