03/27/2025
This week, I opened an email from the Social Media Conference, and as I clicked through to explore the agenda for GSMCON2025, I was hit with a surreal moment—there I was, right on the cover. A photo from last year’s presentation on Instagram Reels. And even more humbling? This year, I’ve been invited back to lead a two-hour workshop:
🎬 Short-Form Video 201 – Crafting Engaging Videos from Planning to Publishing
Someone recently asked me, “With all the things you do, do you still get nervous when speaking in public?” The answer? Absolutely. Every. Single. Time. But I do it anyway.
As an introvert, I’ve come a long way. In high school, I was the student who sat in the back of the classroom, praying the teacher wouldn’t call on me because even that tiny spotlight would send me into full-blown panic. I never volunteered to speak, and when I had to—because of a class project—I wanted to disappear.
It wasn’t until college that I started pushing myself. Raising my hand. Volunteering. Speaking up, even when my voice shook. And now? I stand on conference stages, leading workshops, sharing my knowledge, and hoping to empower others.
I wish my younger self could see me now. She’d be shocked. She’d be proud. And I hope that anyone reading this—who feels that same fear—knows that growth is possible. Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s moving forward despite it.