Sara Adler, UPenn Chapter Member, Class of 2028

Teaching active listening skills to other groups on campus through CogWell is very different from actually practicing it myself. Earlier this year I completed a week-long active listening project for my Positive Psychology class, where I intentionally put my phone away during conversations with my friends and focused on being fully present. Although I work to teach others about active listening, the project made me realize how often I found myself doing things that distracted me from conversations, such as checking my phone, thinking about what I wanted to say next, or letting my attention wander. 

I found active listening challenging at first as reforming habits and reducing distractions requires conscious effort. However, as the week went on, it became easier and more natural for me to be an active listener. Without my phone distracting me, I paid closer attention to what my friends were saying, leading me to be able to interpret more nonverbal cues and to ask more questions. As a result I felt more engaged in conversations and more invested in what others shared with me. 

The people I spoke with seemed to respond positively. Conversations felt more meaningful to me and several friends opened up about personal experiences and concerns. I think people felt supported as they seemed comfortable continuing to share and often stayed engaged in the conversation for longer than usual. Being fully present made my conversations feel more genuine, and I left many of them feeling more connected to my friends. This experience taught me that active listening is not just a skill to learn or teach but one that requires ongoing practice. Since completing the project, active listening is something I intentionally try to prioritize in all of my interactions, and I hope it continues to help me build stronger relationships and have more meaningful conversations with others.