If you’ve followed my journey for a few years now, you know a lot of things about me have changed, especially since my move to Miami. Taking the risk to leave my comfortable life in LA for the uncertainty in Miami taught me that many good things can come from doing stuff outside of your comfort zone. All throughout my life, I’ve always dreaded public speaking despite having received a grade of B in college. I would always get very nervous and dreaded messing up or forgetting what to say and looking like an idiot. While I lived in LA, I turned down a few opportunities I was offered because it involved public speaking. Once I got to Miami, I started to allow myself to do more things out of my comfort zone. Last year during Hispanicize, I participated in a panel as well as moderated another one. I was nervous but it’s like every time you do or try something new; its nerve wrecking but the more you do it, the more comfortable you become with it all.

Fast forward to this year; last month to be exact when I was contacted to be part of a panel where we would be discussing social media. I didn’t hesitate about being a part of it since social media is pretty much my forte. I later found out that Ana Maria Canseco would be one of the panelists. I felt honored and nervous at the same time but figured I could kill it because I would be talking about my passion.

And in all honesty, I did kill it. I mastered my part of the panel because I was speaking about something that’s my passion and something I know for a fact I’m good at. After being introduced, I had 7 minutes (give or take) to talk about myself and social media. I started off by talking about how I entered the social media world, then continued to discuss how social media has changed throughout the years and how it continues to change day to day, and ended it with the power social media has nowadays. After the event, many people came up to me to tell me they loved my story and loved everything I had to say about social media. Some even asked me when I would do my own event to give my social media tips. It was something I had never considered until then. I left the event with such a great feeling of accomplishment because I actually enjoyed public speaking this time around.

Several people who saw the replay of my panel said I was a natural because I dominated so well my part of the panel. Not long prior to that, another friend told me I should consider television since she felt that would go perfect with my personality. And prior to that, when I interviewed on a TV show for a specific segment, the producer asked me if it was my first time because I was so good at it.

In conclusion, I came to the realization that maybe I wasn’t scared of public speaking. I just hadn’t found the passion needed to do it so well. We’ll see what the future holds, but for now, enjoy the pictures from last night’s event, and a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who came out to support and learn.

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