A few of you may be wondering how my TEDx experience went. For all of us, I kept a journal as the day unfolded. Here is how it all went down:
6:42 am: imposter syndrome attempting to set it at all time high. I can’t find my pants. Comfort zone is pants? Will try on dress I bought a yr ago and idk if it will fit.oddly that’s my biggest concern right now.
That and tornado advisory is it over? It’s def still raining.
6:46 The Dress fits pretty well, actually.
I will find a change of clothes though so I don’t sweat it out and get gross.
7:04 I’m in my backup outfit: white thermal and purple skirt.
Red shoes? Gold shoes?
7:24
Supposed to leave 15 minutes ago. Mom so patient
I’m pulling a Kia. Not at all relaxed
8:00
Mom had me listen to Rance Allen in the car, helped melt away some intensity
We prayed.
8:15
Been on campus 20 minutes. Floundered on social media, then got a sausage biscuit for 1.99. Ms Deb you rock.
8:42
Just spent 30 minutes walking thru Dana; showing thinking is up. I’m reminiscing. I like Nell’s haircut.
I’ve decided to bolt myself on stack 3 in the library to go practice and record and record and record.
11:42
After 20 more minutes chillin on Facebook, I got serious lol
In group study room going over slides again.
I deleted 4 or 5.
I read through and then ran with just slides (19:42) and then a fast pace run (16:02) which is the actual pace I need to go thru this speech!!! Ahh!
Guest net is so much slower than I thought. Maybe stop by ITS and get comp remediated so I can use regular wifi. Or I can go to Starbucks. I’m thinking Starbucks
I stowed my dress and shoes under a chair in Alston. Should prolly find someone to keep stuff safe. Oddly unfazed.
It’s 12. I gotta leave this part of the library. Maybe china in tps?
Will I unwrap my hair? Not before 2pm! I should try to knot it though. My curls are squished, but it’s raining.
11:54
Strange in between urge to sleep and desire to perfect. Lord remove this urge to be perfect and just let me find my strengthens courage in You.
I need to go buy a toothbrush. And grab lunch.
Purple skirt inspires courage.
12:13
Ran into Asha đ
12:30 get lunch at chickfila with Asha. Cute spunky little girl w/ mucho personality At table next to us. Much needed decompress time + sharing abt the gold mine of opportunities available through social media
1:30 return to campus, run into Brittany Williams (Class of 2014–RedFoxes everywhere!)
1:45 change clothes, see more students
2pm head to Campbell
2-3 try to review, 2:15 edit slides, talk to Kia. I listened to the beginning of my talk over and over, never seemed to make it through the bits on fixed vs growth mindsets.
3:15 Snag some fancy eats from the faculty TGIF in the lobby. (To be fair, we really thought it was for TEDx. The blueberry goat cheese spread was fabulous.)
3:30 Answer calls, texts, tweets about streaming; post new link; find out the audio is out
Meet with friends to decompress.
4:05 Get called to return to give my talk; everyone was wrapping up early! Showtime (WHEEE! “Are you ready?” “No.” “You’ll do great! You got this!” (Thinking, am I the most nervous or just wearing it on my sleeves?) Hugs and votes of confidence from all the other speakers present– thank you all!
Are you ready? No. “To the moon, Alice!” I yelp to Kim, as we lead up to the steps.
She hands me a land mic and tells me to break a leg.
4:10ish I begin. My eyes find Paula Bloom in the second row. I hit my stride and even get a couple giggles from the audience. I finish in 16 minutes and saunter/ power walk off to the left.
How did you do? *dazed face*
“No one knows what you forgot or messed up on but YOU.” Thanks Honi and everyone.
It took me another 2 hours of answering the question, responding to messages, eating more steamed veggies, and having a glass of wine with Halden to leave the heightened state of frenzy and realize That I did well. There is nothing like public speaking, even in how you process it after you conclude.
I decompressed by chatting, explaining my talk to professors still gathered in the lobby, bouncing around Spring Fling fest, and then watching the last couple of talks. We took all the photos, all the poses, including with our infamous onyx rings and then I knew, we just made history.
The recordings will be available after edits, and I’ll be sure to post them here.
All the TEDxASC talks In a nutshell:
#Hashtag
#YesAnd
#Freak
#WhatDidYouJustDoToYourself
#MillennialPower
#Mentors
#VisionOverSight
#Depression
This has been one day in the life. đđŚ