I know adulting can be daunting. You have to make your own doctor's appointments, file taxes, feed yourself and hold a job all while not crying or falling asleep in public anymore. You're out of college which feels like the worst and you need to start building up your "career prospects" (whatever that means). Lo and behold, the thing that most other adults encourage you to do is networking. You barely know what it is, only that includes talking to people, which is gross. But coming from a recent college graduate who adults begrudgingly, networking is kind of okay. Here is how I see it.

1. You don't know people, but other people know people.

It's haaaaard to meet people on your own. And unless you're the child of some bigwig in the field you want to get into, you need to know people. Or rather, you need to know people who know people. I have interacted with friends of my parents and professors who were more than willing to help me find work and further connections. It's worth it because there are people with more experience and larger networks than you.

2. They know what's up in your field.

Hey, you know that place you want to be? There are a lot of people innovating in your field that you could just, you know, meet. There are conferences, lectures, seminars, classes and more opportunities to meet up and talk shop with people who know what's going on in your field. You can plan to meet up later and discuss your specific prospects. Who knows? Maybe they'l know of a place that looking for people like you.

3. They've been where you are.

I met up recently with some thoroughly experienced producers (specifically in documentary and nonfiction film, my intended field). They told me that I should expect to start at the bottom, take crap pay and work my way up as I get to know the business. My field doesn't owe me anything. And all I could say was great. Really. I want to know how other people because successful and that's usually through hard work. So meet up with someone and listen to their horror stories. Because along with the bad stuff, there's so much good that people in your field have created and lived through.

4. Let's face it, you're a little lost.

Do you know everything about your field after getting your degree? Yeah, neither do I. And that's okay. Your degree, while useful, can be utter BS when applied to the real world. Networking helps you figure out who to talk to, what jobs you're suited for, where to go, when to apply, and why you should love your field. Networking is the professional map you so desperately need.

5. You get to meet a lot of really cool people.

Yes, talking to people can be uncomfortable. I personally am very awkward and feel like I'm never saying the right thing. But once you get past the "Hello, my name is ______ and this is what I can do for you" speech, you can uncover some interesting people and worthwhile conversation. Networking can be very fulfilling as long as you are willing to listen and be heard. As a reward for getting through my professional self-help talk, enjoy this gif of a mushy faced cat attempting to eat watermelon.