Goal 3: Disseminate knowledge of secondary transition by sharing information with interdisciplinary colleagues, and students via conference presentations, guest lectures and in-service.
Davidson, B. (Photographer). (1963). Construction of the Verrazano Bridge [photograph]. Chicago, IL: Art Institute of Chicago.
I was a typical introvert who shied away from public speaking. In college, I was often the one who did the most work for the team and yet let others shine on the stage. However, when I understood that public speaking is a necessary skill to disseminate my ideas to a broader audience, I made efforts to work on my public presentation skills via different folates including conference presentations, guest lectures, and in-service.
I recall that the day before my presentation at 2018 AOTA Annual Conference, my excitement was mixed with anxiety. It was my first professional presentation at a national conference. I practiced in front of a mirror so many times that I even dreamed about it at night. I saw this presentation as a milestone in my professional path. Each subsequent presentations helped me boost up presenting skills and strengthen my confidence. When I guest-lectured for the OT course earlier this year, I received positive feedback from the participating students. Students expressed their appreciations and acknowledged my time and efforts put into the presentation. I never imagined this day that I could reach this stage of comfort while delivering a public presentation.
I also learned that it is crucial to know my audience and adjust the presented material accordingly. When I presented my systematic review at the AOTA conference in front of a group of therapists, I focused on the research method, results, and clinical implications. Conversely, when I guest-lectured in the Evidence-Based Practice course in front of other OTD students, I focused more on my experiences and the process I took to conduct the review. Identifying information relevant to the audiences is one of the critical elements in the process of presentation-preparation.
Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement. I was told that I tend to talk too fast during presentations when I get nervous. I also tend to lose my train of thought easily when I notice errors on my slides (e.g., spelling mistakes). I believe that with more practice and more constructive feedback, my public delivery skills will continue to develop.
![Davidson, B. (Photographer). (1963). Construction of the Verrazano Bridge [photograph]. Chicago, IL: Art Institute of Chicago.](https://wp.nyu.edu/cychiang/wp-content/uploads/sites/5661/2019/02/Bruce-Davidson-1963-Construction-of-the-Verrazano-Bridge-2-687x1024.jpg)