Public Speaking

This past Thursday I had the great opportunity to speak to the members of Snow College PBL. Their advisor is one of my dearest friends from my days at Southern Utah University, Stacee Yardley McIff. Stacee asked me a few months ago if I would be able to come and speak, finally we were able to work our schedule out and find a day that worked for us.

The topic she gave me was involvement and how it influenced me in college, how it helped me find a job, and how it has helped me in my career. I ran the talk through my head probably 1,000 different times between when she asked me and when I sat down to actually write everything down. So when I sat down, the thoughts started flowing. I didn't realize how much impact my college activity still has on me today twelve years later. Speaking was such a good experience. The students were so respectful and welcoming of me, I immediately felt at home. Although, Stacee did send me one of the fliers, and it had a line that said something like; "Come listen to a dynamic speaker". I replied that there was no pressure on me being built up like that. But I did manage to leave unscathed and all in all I would call it a good experience, I just hope the students felt as good about it as I do.


Prior to the meeting, Stacee and I went out to lunch. It was so great spending an hour with her getting caught up on the last several years. Both Stacee and I were happy with new technology, blogs and Facebook which have helped us to renew friendships and keep in contact with old friends. We also were disappointed that it took us this kind of time and technology to renew these friendships. In college we spent so much time together and were a such a huge part of one another's lives. It is so disappointing how we let those contacts and friendships fade. It is even more disappointing how hard it is and how much effort it takes to find time to get back together. I guess that is just a natural part of things. We start to go separate ways, in our careers, family obligations, and sometimes we even find different friends. (Just another strange Clinton tangent.)

Anyway, the day at Snow was great. I really enjoyed the chance to speak with the PBL group and catch up with Stacee. I even told her that maybe one of these years I would return and speak again--when it is new people that haven't heard my stories.