Tristan Connors

Multimedia Writing & Rhetoric

Reflection on TED Talk

When I first thought of the TED Talk, I was already very nervous about what that would

entail. I had never had a good experience with presentations, so I decided that after I got back

from Thanksgiving break, I would work on the script right away. In fact, I actually did. I made

the script rather quickly for myself, and after that I proceeded to make my actual slideshow for

the presentation. I studied it, and did as much as I could to memorize the cues and such

throughout the eight or so hours I spent with the script. I felt like I would be more prepared than

I had been in the past, which I thought was the cause of my “deer in the headlights” look

whenever I have to explain a slideshow in front of people without any notes in front of me

whatsoever.

As it turns out, it wasn’t. I have don’t seem to have a problem with speaking in front of a

class for a very, very short period of time. But when I stepped up to the front of the class and saw

the disinterest start, well, at the start of my speech, I got that same look I did in every slideshow

presentation I had done up to this point. I forgot just about 99% of the script/cues I had written

down for myself, and I fucked up. Bigtime.

As of right now, I consider the TED Talk a huge learning experience. The main lesson I

received from it basically entailed using the opportunity to not speak directly in front of people

(make a video) when possible, especially to prevent my pretty extreme cases of stage fright.

Otherwise, I would probably need to meditate before I even go up to make a presentation again,

so that my hands aren’t shaking ridiculously and my calves cramping before I even step up.

Hopefully that could work, because I already have surgery coming up, I’d prefer not to have

professionals work on my head too. Otherwise, I was proud of my ability to develop a good work

ethic in terms of making the script and presentation more than just a night or two before the

actual presentation. That’s the one positive I will definitely take away from this experience. This

semester’s pretty much broken me already; it’s just time to rebuild.