Getting ready for my presentation at the Society for Marine Mammalogy (SMM) 2024 conference was both exciting and a little overwhelming. I was going to be speaking in front of about 200 biologists and researchers, which made me pretty nervous at first. These were people with years of experience in the field, and I wanted to make sure I presented my research clearly and professionally. To prepare, I spent a lot of time working on my slides, making sure they were easy to understand and visually engaging. I also wanted to improve my delivery, so I met with Guy Oliver and Steve Mandel, who gave me great advice on body language and volume. They helped me feel more confident about how I presented myself on stage, making sure I spoke loudly enough and used gestures to keep the audience engaged.

In the days leading up to the conference, I practiced as much as I could. I ran through my presentation multiple times in front of my parents, who gave me feedback on my clarity and pacing. I even practiced in front of a fake audience, imagining how the real presentation would feel. At first, it was tough, and I still felt nervous, but the more I practiced, the more comfortable I became. By the time the actual presentation came, I felt much more prepared. It turned out to be a great experience, and I was really happy with how it went. Not only did I learn a lot about presenting, but I also got the chance to connect with other researchers and exchange contacts with fellow speakers. Looking back, all the preparation was worth it, and I’m glad I put in the effort to improve my skills.

If you want to see my presentation. I made it viewable through drive for anyone that clicks on this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p1O9QFfvPeQR64SnXPY2IXkUGc0K-yEp/view?usp=sharing