Monica Zambrano Reflection #1

Taking Summer Online Classes: The Best Decision I Have Made This Summer

I want to start off by saying how grateful I am for being able to be in such an amazing group with the grand leadership of Tailynn. We could not have done it without her, no exaggeration.  

Instead of starting with my own presentation experience, I want to begin by discussing the other groups' presentations. Group 2: The Nature and Types of Groups went after my group finished, I was relieved and super hyper focus on the next presentation. I realized I pay more attention when someone uses images and examples to explain, rather than just reading off a PowerPoint slide. The way Lisbeth Triana from Group 2 presented was very entertaining. She used gifs, images, and examples for her slide. I noticed that, compared to our group's PowerPoint presentation, other groups had different people speaking at various times, often switching back and forth. In our presentation, we each spoke in a set order, making the flow smoother. I also want to mention the PowerPoint theme is very colorful and animated, it made it look very lively and pleasing to look at. I admit that towards the end, I got distracted, either by my phone or daydreaming, probably due to lack of sleep from pulling an all-nighter. Why did I stay up all night? I have no idea. Despite getting distracted, everything else was great and enjoyable. 

Now for Group 1, because of my lack of sleep, I might have dozed off a bit. Thank God the presentation was recorded so I could rewatch it, which I did. I apologize for not giving my fullest attention to my fellow classmates, but I am known for sleeping anywhere and everywhere. Before dozing off, I noticed the colors of the PowerPoint were more monotone and a bit dull, like an office presentation. The chapter they covered was great, but I wish the theme had been livelier and more vibrant. Someone in Group 1 had included a video in their slide, but it didn't show up during the presentation, which was disappointing because I wanted to see how that feature worked. There were also students missing from the presentation, which confused the class and Professor Sherri, but someone stepped in to save the day and spoke for the missing classmate.

Now, for the highly anticipated moment in your life: My Experience

I finally had the chance to share an experience with one of my closest friends, Zaza, or as many know her, Zainab. We ended up in the same group, and I could not contain my excitement. We kept spamming each-other’s phone. Choosing the same class was intentional and having Zaza alongside me felt like the cherry on top. 

Before making this decision, I was torn between two classes: Introduction to Communications and Introduction to Public Speaking. Both sounded scary, especially for me, who you could say has "stage fright". Deep down, I knew I needed to take this type of class at some point. Thankfully, I was reassured by my loving friends that convinced me that it was not as terrifying as it seemed. With their support, I enrolled, and looking back, it was definitely the right choice. The class is incredible, filled with amazing people, and our professor is fantastic. Each session is not just educational but also entertaining. I find myself learning something new every time, and I could not be happier with my decision. 

My experience with creating the PowerPoint slides went smoothly, thanks to Tailyn who took charge of setting up the theme and assigning sections of the chapters. Working on the slides during class time was enjoyable for me, as I love editing PowerPoint presentations. However, my tendency to procrastinate, due to my rare condition called procrastination, led me to leave preparing my speaking points until the last day. Realizing the importance of speaking confidently rather than just reading off the slides, I took notes and sought advice from a friend. She emphasized taking it slow, not rushing, and using notes as a guide rather than reading from them directly. Her tips provided the reassurance I needed. After an hour of practice, I felt confident. 

I joined the class at 8 o'clock, only to discover that we were scheduled to present first. Despite some initial complications due to missing class leaders and Zoom meeting misunderstandings, Regina stepped in to save the day with her introduction. As each person in our group presented, my nerves escalated as my turn approached. Resorting to prayer helped calm me momentarily, but once I began speaking, I felt my heart pounding and my body trembling. Despite an initial shaky start, I gradually found my rhythm, even amidst a few awkward pauses and voice cracks. Finishing my presentation brought a wave of relief, although I still felt shaken, I was proud of myself for pushing through.   

Reflecting on this experience, I have realized it's not as bad as it seems. Once you finish, you feel a sense of accomplishment. I forgot to mention that watching my close friend present so confidently inspired me and gave me the confidence that I could do it too. Looking back at the recorded Zoom presentation, I noticed areas for improvement. For instance, I need to fill in those silent pauses and incorporate real-life examples to keep it entertaining. Despite not being the best at communicating or public speaking, I felt like I did pretty well. I often debate whether it is worse to do this class virtually or in person. I tend to think that in-person would be much more challenging. So, I'm grateful for the opportunity to take this class virtually, especially with my close friend by my side. I'm excited about the next presentation and what it holds. I will definitely give it my best shot, especially since it will be longer. I need to focus on practicing my pronunciation more because I tend to mumble. I'm eager to write another blog post for the next assignment and share my experience with you.