How to Stay Connected From Afar

Babson World Globe
Listen

On Saturday night, a group of Babson grad students settled in to watch a movie.

Except, instead of gathering together at a theater or one person’s house, they used Netflix Party to stream Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and group chat about it. Call it socializing in the social distancing era.

“We need social connection now more than ever—the sense of continuity of community is so important,” Lawrence P. Ward, vice president for student affairs and dean of students said during last week’s virtual community forum, which focused on the importance of the Babson community and our path forward.

“Staying connected via email, a text, FaceTime, snapchat, anything, especially to those outside of your circle, will help us get through these times.”

We crowd sourced a few ideas for how students can keep their Babson community connected without being together on campus.

Bring Your Personality Online

As classes shift online, discussion boards, forums, and group chats play a bigger role in the learning experience. Consequently, it becomes that much more important to communicate effectively without losing that human touch. Noah Shifman, MBA ’19, took blended learning classes for the vast majority of his degree. “Be thoughtful and genuine in your digital responses,” he says.

Blend School and Fun

Liz Gallinaro, MBA ’19, recommends recreating the in-person socializing you’re used to online. Her go-to techniques? Informal study sessions via Google hangouts, and both school and fun slack channels with your peers. Online or not, nobody can empathize better than the people sharing your experience.

Get Social

There’s no time like the present to broaden your social network. “I stay in touch with many of the friends I made at Babson on social media more than I do on the phone or over email,” says Shifman. “Being able to see what your peers are doing is a good way to build community.” Your professors and many of the familiar faces you are used to seeing on campus are craving this connection too, and following their channels is another way to stay connected.

Take Care of Yourself

Everyone who has flown is familiar with the oxygen mask demo – putting your own mask on first before helping others. This concept of self-care has never been more important. One technique that President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD is using is reflection.

“Document this process and this experience,” he encouraged the Babson community during last week’s forum. “Ask yourself ‘How am I staying connected to my network? How will these experiences help me be a leader in our alumni community? How am I reacting to the variables, and solving problems?’”

Precisely because these are unsettling times, it’s important to stay together. “Focus on your networks and on your friendships,” urged Ward. “Ask yourself ‘How do I feed those?’ Remember that your energy is finite, and invest it in being optimistic about the future.”

Posted in Community

More from Community »

Latest Stories

a row of electricity meters
The Price of Power: What’s Driving Rising Electricity Rates? Electricity rates have been steadily increasing. Ryan Davies, a Babson professor of finance, unpacks the many reasons for that, including the massive data centers popping up across the country.
By
John Crawford
Senior Journalist
John Crawford
A writer for Babson Thought & Action and the Babson Magazine, John Crawford has been telling the College’s entrepreneurial story for more than 15 years. Assignments for Babson have taken him from Rwanda to El Salvador, from the sweet-smelling factory of a Pennsylvania candy maker, to the stately Atlanta headquarters of an NFL owner, to the bustling office of a New York City fashion designer. Beyond his work for Babson, he has written articles and essays for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Notre Dame Magazine, The Good Men Project, and other publications. He can be found on Twitter, @crawfordwriter, where he tweets about climate change.
September 30, 2025

Posted in Insights

The Babson community and mascot celebrate at the Roger Babson statue last year
No. 2 Again: Wall Street Journal Ranks Babson the No. 2 Best College for the Second Year in a Row For the second year in a row, The Wall Street Journal ranked Babson as the No. 2 Best College in the United States, lauding the College for its impressive impact on student outcomes.
By
Eric Beato
Editor / Writer
Eric Beato
Eric Beato is the Editor of Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. A native of Chicago and a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Eric has worked as an editor and writer at newspapers across the country, including the Chicago Sun-Times and Boston Herald. Eric joined Babson College in 2019 after working as the communications director for a private educational travel company and as the managing editor of six regional sports publications.
September 29, 2025

Posted in Community, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Insights, Outcomes

First row (left to right): Laura Bautista ’29, Ezel Bhatty ’29, Sydney Fojas ’29; Second row (left to right): Lucas Lebrija ’29, Tia Malhotra ’29, Remy Witt ’29
Class of 2029 Blank Leadership Scholars Bring Excitement to Campus The Class of 2029 Blank Leadership Scholars arrive at Babson equipped with entrepreneurial spirit and social impact experience, from launching nonprofits and tech solutions to championing environmental education.
By
Melissa Savignano
Writer
Melissa Savignano
Melissa Savignano, a content marketing manager at Babson College, has worked in higher education for almost a decade, where she tells authentic, compelling campus and community stories. Before Babson, she managed communications for Boston University’s largest college, the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. She previously worked in client relations, helping brands of various sizes launch content marketing strategies and storytelling initiatives. When not at work, you will find her in the city of Boston, probably at the movie theater.
September 25, 2025

Posted in Community