Toxic Shock Syndrome

[swede_dish]

As I have said before, in Feb. I was diagnosed with Toxic Shock Syndrome...well I have to go to the same doctor I always go to for check ups due to my TSS. Apparently a couple nurses that helped me out during then had written me letters and such but didn't have the info to send them so when I went in today my doctor gave me the envelope with all of the nice letters. I think this will brighten my whole year. I felt like a turd because I was cranky for a good portion of my hospital stay..which is understandable in some ways, but not really. There was no real excuse for my crabby additude. So I was leaving the hospital after my check up and I ran into Tina, the nurse that was with me for most of the time. I talked to her for a LONG time and found out that she is just a few years older than me and yet she seems so much more mature than me or anyone I know that is even closer to her age. We're going to lunch next week =)


WELL..onto what this was supposed to be about in the first place.

I have to do a presentation at the High School school my sister works at.  She's a sex ed (health) teacher in Indiana. I guess she wants me to talk to them about TSS and about the importance of hygine in preventing this. (Even though my case was not caused by tampon use) She also wants me to talk about HIV/AIDS in general comming from a person who is close to the age of her students. (High schoolers..even though I've been out for 3 years now..either way she says it will help..meh whatever)  While I have done research and I know a great deal about these topics because both of these things, obviousely...but the thought of talking about it so openly kind of frightens me. My public speaking skills are more or less lacking. 

Any pointers? PLEASE...I'm shaking in my Homer Simpson slippers at the thought of this endevour and I already told her I would do it...eep.



love and more love,
<3
Lotus

[Sae]

Wow, good on you Lotus...

Public speaking things:

Always look all the way around the room....even if you are too nervous to look at faces look behind their heads.  Work the whole room.

If you are asked a question, always Repeat it before you answer, because more often than not other people didn't hear it and it allows you to focus and answer better anyway.

Sit casually on a desk sort of sideways if its informal, makes people relax....unless you want formal that is.   Watch your body language, don't cross your arms and close people out.

If your body language is open and you're being yourself, the rest comes naturally.  Write a few notes of the points you want to hit in different colours so you never have to look down.

Have fun is the biggest thing.....make a joke or two, even if the topic is not so hysterical.

Sae.

[swede_dish]

thank you Sae! I will definately use those tips =)

[cjc]

Hello, best of luck to you in this. The suggestions SAE gave you sound really good, wish I had more to offer besides you will do a wonderful job.   Cristy

[MSPspud]

I HATE public speaking, but to sharpen my skills I joined Toastmasters for a couple of years.  It definitely helped.    Most groups meet weekly and can be either formal or informal.  Believe it or not, going to a couple of meetings (perhaps informally and for free) will give you more pointers than you'll know what to do with.  Trust me on this one.  There are groups for companies, LGBT ...  whatever you can think of.  See what's in your area and inquire.

www.toastmasters.org

[MSPspud]

Here's all I could find for your area:

Cherry Capital Club - Club #: 5116, Dist #: 62, Est: 05/01/1983         Meeting Time: 7:15 am, Thursday
Horizon Book Store
243 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI, 49684, United States
Club Status: Open to all                                   (231) 995 1058

I guess Traverse City is a little small...  any other near by towns?  I don't know if I could do that 7:15 am myself.  Egads!

[swede_dish]

Hahahah MSPspud I don't think I could do it at 7:15 but I might try.

aha yes TC is a bit small...but it IS the fastest growing area in Michigan and it has the highest number of GLBT  per capita