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February 20, 2005
Presentation Butterflies
People who know me well know that public speaking doesn't really bother me. I mean, I was a tour guide (and I've got some stories!) at Meramec Caverns one summer in high school, and I've given various speeches and presentations throughout the years. Up until this point, my most nerve-wracking presentation was to the board of directors at Crawford Electric so I could win their essay contest for a free trip to Washington, D.C. (which I did, by the way).
But now, I've got my first "professional" presentation to make. When the Nashville Area Association for the Education of Young Children (a branch of the NAEYC, which teachers recognize as a major organization) approached my professor about presenting at their February Training Day, Tisha decided to let her students present instead. She's still giving the keynote speech, but the breakout sessions are our responsibilites as students. Therefore, next Saturday, I am giving my first "real" presentation to a group of educators. You can see the page here. It was supposed to have our names on it (and I was a smidgen disappointed that it didn't), but it just has our presentation titles. I'm doing the one on anecdotal records. Anyway, the tummy butterflies are out already. It's not the speaking aspect I'm worried about...it's the possibility that something will go wrong: my PowerPoint presentation won't load or the overhead projector bulb blows or I'll lose my voice and not even be able to squeak or the group of teachers already know more about anecdotal records than me and I look like a fool. Plus, knowing that this presentation makes up 40% of my semester grade doesn't make me feel any better because I can't anticipate all the problems like I can in a term paper or something.
I keep telling myself that it'll all be OK, but I don't think the "butterflies of the unknown" will disappear until this time next week. I'll keep you posted.
Posted by Anna at February 20, 2005 01:17 PM
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Comments
Look at it this way: a lost voice and malfunctioning PP-presentations must be happening to professional educators all the time, so A) they would probably understand and B) it will make a good anecdote... Good luck! 
Posted by: Flip at February 21, 2005 12:37 AM
It would make for a good story for Inkblots. Just sayin'...
Posted by: Christopher at February 21, 2005 12:29 PM