I gave the professional development rush presentation for Theta Tau recently. It was a good opportunity for me to reflect on my college experiences, what I gained and what I should have done better. Here are the points I made:

  • Don’t be afraid of asking questions or seeming dumb.
  • Admit your weaknesses.
  • Embrace the negative feedback cycle.
  • Learn to plan.
  • Your time is limited. Have a vision.
  • Make every choice deliberate.
  • Prepare for interviews.
  • Do not worry excessively about grades…
  • or money.
  • Soft skills matter.
  • Have a wide range of interests.
  • Don’t forget to have a good time.
  • Do what you say you will do.

I think the speech went well. I have definitely improved a lot as a speaker. Not having a crowd of 100+ also helped my nerves a bunch. I have embraced pauses in my speech that really allow me to collect my thoughts and speak more slowly.

Some other thoughts I didn’t include in the talk:

  • I wish I valued relationships more.
  • I wish I learned a balance between discipline and flexibility.

It was a good talk. Look for other opportunities to talk. Spend a bit more time preparing so that the flow of the talk makes more sense. Practice injecting humor more smoothly. I think your personality has potential to really inspire people, develop that.