Knapp's Relationship Model

    Going to an online high school taught me a lot about the importance of maintaining interpersonal connection. I learned how to care for online relationships with close friends or teachers in order to continue to experience human connection. I feel as though this has also helped me through the COVID-19 pandemic in some ways. Because I didn't have a lot of in-person communication with other students through high school and college, I am not missing these interactions. 

    Online communication has not only helped me maintain friendships, without social media I would not have bonded with the person who I am now married to. 

    We met through mutual friends, and I was given a less than ideal first impression of him. At first I thought he did not like me, but I later found out that his reaction was more out of nervousness. 

    After about 6 months of our first meeting one another, we "accidentally" matched on Tinder. At the time we were both using the app to find friends, but since we already knew each other it just gave us an excuse to start a conversation. 

    Our relationship began to intensify quickly after only a few weeks of talking via Instagram direct message. We used this as our primary form of communication because we could share pictures and messages in the same place. It was also a way for us to video chat on a common platform, which came in handy when we were meeting in public places during the beginning stage of our relationship.

    Needless to say, without forms of online communication, I would not have had the opportunity to get to know the most important person in my life. 

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Works Cited

Communication Models, Interpersonal Communication. “Knapp's Relationship Model.” Communication Theory, 10 July 2014, www.communicationtheory.org/knapps-relationship-model/.

“Vector Illustration in Trendy Flat Style - Online Dating App..” 123RF, 2020, www.123rf.com/photo_67504044_stock-vector-vector-illustration-in-trendy-flat-style-online-dating-app-concept-mobile-phone-with-application-on-.html.