This past summer I was asked by my former nursing clinical professor at Purdue if I would like to give the lecture on NICU in the Maternal/Child Health class. I, of course, said yes.
Today was the day for me to finally present my powerpoint! The more I thought about it I realized that this was going to be their last lecture of the semester-dead week-so really how many people would even come? The class ended up being full (I mean come on it's nursing students so why'd I even doubt it?) and they were SO into it!
I started getting my presentation ready a couple months ago, but really started cracking down on it the past couple weeks. I didn't really get nervous until last night I got home from work and Matt asked me, "So what's your intro?" and then kept going with the questions..."What are you going to say if she introduces you like this?" "Or like this?" "How are you going to move into your presentation after that video?" "Have you practiced?" "You should practice." "You're right, you'll be fine!" Holy moly.
It was fun because I kind of just made a day out of the whole thing! My friend, Amber, who works in the NICU with me (and also is a Purdue nursing grad) came up with me. We met my mom and my grandmother at Maru for some pre-lecture sushi! It was amazing. I didn't get nervous until I started getting full because then I knew the lecture was coming soon. My mom and Amber came with me to the lecture and looked all cute camped out in the front row corner. My little entourage :). We got there pretty early. I don't think I had ever gotten to a class that early.
I was so nervous, but I just kept telling myself how interested I thought the NICU lecture was when I was in school so I was hoping they'd feel the same way. When I asked them to raise their hands if they were interested in working in the NICU quite a lot of students did so I felt a little better.
I am so passionate about the NICU and all that's involved with it that I probably could've talked about it for hours on end. Luckily, I got done with my presentation with 5 minutes to spare! I had no idea how long my lecture would be because I never once practiced it. Rebel! I loved it because almost every single student was looking up at me or the powerpoint the entire time so I felt like they were really interested. I loved watching their faces when I was telling certain stories or when they were looking through the little bags I brought with tiny baby items (small diaper, smallest blood pressure cuff, tiny paci, etc). They asked some really good questions at the end too. I also had a couple students come up to me afterwards and ask about the NICU and how to get jobs there. The two professors told me afterwards that I did a great job and asked me to come back to give the NICU lecture every semester! They said they actually learned a lot from my presentation and loved it. Yay!
After the lecture, Amber and I went to good ole' Harry's for a celebratory drink and some food (hello buffalo chicken pasta salad!). My friend Ashley actually met up with us on her way home from work. It worked out perfectly! I am so glad she was able to stop by so we could catch up. I love her. After Harry's we had to make a pit stop on the way back to the car...I mean how can you not when there is an Orange Leaf across the street? Sushi, Purdue, Harry's, and Orange Leaf. Could it get any better?
We will see how I did when Matt gets home and wants to watch the recording :)
