If several people “know” you or even remember you from school or somewhere else, then is that considered a good thing for connecting and networking in certain situations?
Now, you don’t have to be friends with them or apart of the popular crowd, just well-known by many people. It’s more like being acquaintances with them.
Not the more people that you know…but, the people that you know, remember you, and have relevance to you. It’s not the numbers but the numbers and the quality of the relationship. ( the numbers only matter because a larger pool of people in general has more resources and contacts even if they aren’t close to you in any way). Also, you may not have connected in a meaningful way but the person may remember you or your talents.
It needs to be a neutral or positive impression or rememberance.
I have found the practice of “not burning bridges” to be helpful in college, career and life in general. Sometimes the world seems very small and connected. Example - I work with people I met more than 30 yrs ago at another company when I was the rookie. Good thing I wasn’t a twerp back then.
You need a handful of good friends, and a larger group of associates/ acquaintances and an overall good reputation.