Winter Showcase

The ISM Winter Showcase on January 16th provided one of the best professional experiences in my life. It allowed me to interact with strangers at an unprecedented rate and in a unique manner. One of the things that I liked in particular was the format of the showcase. Instead of having to present to a group of people that may or may not be interested in listening to me, the format allowed for the attendees of the ISM Winter Showcase to select the topics that they were interested in. This meant that the people that came to my station actually wanted to be there and I was not wasting my breath. Additionally, I believe that the ISM Winter Showcase refined my presentational skills. Personally, I love public speaking and it is not a problem for me, but what Winter Showcase taught me is how to deliver a succinct yet effective presentation. Although Winter Showcase provided a rich professional experience, it was not without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges of the night was coping with the fact that I am going to have to repeat myself infinitely. In the end, I believe that I presented about 65 to 70 times. After a while, repeating oneself becomes quite frustrating and tiring. It was very much like beating a dead horse. However, with this experience under my belt, I feel much more capable professionally that I have ever before.