Have you ever had a really awkward handshake where you just didn't get a good grip? A handshake can tell you a lot about a person, by their approach and how they handle the handshake. Whether it's just a casual handshake with someone you know or with the manager who is about to interview you, your handshake can make a strong impression. Some say a handshake is just an empty courtesy and others say it's an essential act that helps everyone get to know each other better. In my English class here at Appalachian State University, we were sent to observe how students greeted each other. I rarely saw students shaking hands. In all the data I recorded, I saw only one handshake occur. A handshake shows you many characteristics and is an important action to help you make a good impression. Few people of student age or younger shake hands. It has become a foreign form of communication and is usually only associated with more professional confrontations. “Few people have any idea how they present themselves to others during first meetings, even though most of us are aware that the first few minutes of that meeting can make or break a relationship” (Pease 64) . In the data I recorded, the two people greeting each other were men and appeared to be good friends. They were definitely southern gentlemen, judging by the way they spoke. They both smile and shake hands, one asking the other, "Hey man, what good thing do you know?" the other readily responding: “Not much, and you? Such a simple way to greet each other and it made them both realize that they were happy to see each other. Instead of a friend... middle of paper ......ndshake should be used in larger crowds to make sure you are just trying to appear friendly. “Remember that the handshake evolved as a gesture to say hello or goodbye or to seal a deal, so it should always be warm, friendly and positive” (Pease, 46). This is the kind of handshake I observed when collecting my data. They were both friends, I guess from the way they spoke to each other and they shook hands to be warm, friendly and positive. How we greet people is more important than we think. Even though it's not a very popular form among young people these days, it can be helpful to see what kind of impression you'll receive. In the business world, your first impression is extremely important. The handshake is not just an empty politeness but it is a tool to move business forward as well as to get to know the other person better...