What I Took Away From Presentation Day - Destinee Jonassaint

Destinee Jonassaint

SPC1017

PROF. Sinkoff

Hello, my name is Destinee Jonassaint and I am here to reflect on the past project my class had done. I'm not going to lie, when I first found out we had to present in front of the class I was kind of nervous. Not just about my own group but the whole day in general. I didn't really know what to expect from everyone. But looking back on it now I'm really glad it happened because it ended up being one of those class days where you actually feel like you got something out of it. All three groups covered topics around communication and I think what made it so interesting is that communication is something we do every single day without really thinking about it. Sitting through these presentations made me realize how much I didn't know about something I do all the time.

Group One: Intercultural Communication

The first group talked about culture and communication and honestly they surprised me. I went in thinking I already kind of knew what culture was but they changed how I looked at it. The way they explained it made me think about my own life differently. Like I started thinking about the groups I belong to and how they shape the way I talk and act around different people. I never really connected those dots before.

What I liked most about their presentation was how confident they were. You could tell they really knew their stuff and that made it easy to pay attention. When a presenter actually believes in what they're saying you feel it and it keeps you locked in. I left their part of the presentation feeling like I learned something real, not just something for a test.

One of the parts I liked most was when they talked about co-cultures. So basically there's a main culture that most people share but then inside that there's smaller groups based on things like race, religion, age, gender and stuff like that. They called those co-cultures. What was cool about that is it made me think about all the different groups I belong to and how that shapes who I am. 

The people presenting were really into it and you could tell they knew their stuff. They were confident and easy to follow. I didn't get bored at all which is saying something for me honestly. 

Group Two: Communicating in Groups

Then it was our turn and I won't lie the nerves really kicked in. My group covered communicating in groups and we each had our own section. My teammates did a great job covering their parts like what makes a group work well, how conflict plays out in groups, and how groups are different depending on who's in them and what they're doing. Watching them present made me feel proud of our group because everyone showed up and did their part.

My part was about the stages groups go through and I was honestly more nervous about that than anything else. I kept thinking about what if I mess up or forget what I was going to say. But once I started talking it felt a little better. I tried to explain it in a way that made sense and I think it came across okay. Presenting is something I'm still getting used to but this experience helped me feel a little more comfortable with it.

They covered things like having clear goals, being dependent on each other, and building something called cohesiveness which is basically when a group feels tight and connected. They also talked about norms which are just the unwritten rules a group has about how to act. Every group has them even if nobody ever says them out loud. And synergy, which is when a group works so well together that they get more done than they ever could on their own.

Overall, what I took away from being in this group is that communication really does matter even inside a group of people who already know each other. The way you talk to each other, the way you handle disagreements, the way you show up for your teammates is all communication.

Group Three: Group Leadership and Problem Solving

The third group talked about leadership and problem solving and that one really stuck with me. I always had this idea in my head that a leader is just one person who takes charge of everything. But they basically flipped that idea around. They said leadership can be shared and that everybody in a group can lead in their own way. That was something I didn't expect to hear and it actually made me feel better about myself in group situations because I don't always feel like the "leader type" but now I see that doesn't mean I'm not contributing.

I liked that because I always thought being a leader meant you had to be the loudest or most confident person. Even if you're quiet you can still be leading by making sure everyone gets to speak or by finishing your part on time.

One thing i takeaway is the steps to solving a problem the right way. You're supposed to figure out what the problem actually is first, then look into it more, then figure out what a good solution would even look like, then come up with ideas, pick the best one, and then do it. It sounds simple but most of the time in group projects people just skip to trying to fix things without really understanding the problem first.

Their presentation was really well put together and their energy was good the whole way through. It made the whole thing easy to follow and enjoyable to watch.

In Summary

Looking back at the whole day I think what stands out to me the most is just how much communication actually connects everything. Whether it's understanding different cultures, working through problems in a group, or figuring out how to lead, it all comes back to how we talk to each other and how we listen.

I also just really appreciated how much effort everyone put in. Every group was creative and organized and you could feel the energy in the room. It didn't feel like just another class assignment. It felt like people actually cared and that made a difference in how it felt to be there watching and listening.

Presenting is still something that makes me nervous but after this experience I feel a little more ready for the next time.

I really want to shout out to the class leaders who were there to hep us whenever we had questions. It made everything feel less stressful knowing we had that support.