Presenting the Youth Travel Blogging Mentorship Program at The Global Education Conference
Aka, the Place in Which One Can Speak in His Pajamas

I couldn't wait for such an experience. The opportunity of presenting alongside two of my favorite people in the world had been on my radar for a while. That idea was extraordinary to me. It was an online recording too,  meaning billions of people would have the chance to see our talk at some point in time in time. I'd be internet famous.

It would be a first for me, giving a speech of some importance. The most "important" speech I had delivered by then had to have been presenting to my mother why she should give me my allowance early. Jessie and her brilliant husband Ed, founders of this site and the youth mentoring program, had mentioned that they would be giving this presentation at the online Global Education Conference. A few emails later, I found myself panicking over the fact that I could soon be presenting to 100s of people live, and later on millions surfing the web.

I had a relatively simple task at hand: rave about these two extraordinary people and the good they bring this world with the Youth Travel Blogging Mentorship Program. (It's not that hard once you get to know them.) And I had to give insight into what it was like being a student in said mentoring program. That wouldn't be hard. It's the best thing that's happened to me in my 15 years of living. As a teen sitting on his bed hoping to god he could remember the concept of speech, one could say I was a just little a nervous. Just a wee bit. When it came time for me to present, I found myself fidgeting with anything my hands could reach. First it was the old cell phone. Then came the rusty pen that I found under my pillow. Back to the mobile. And finally, a deck of cards. As I went on speaking, though, it became more natural. I realized that the audience could not reach through the computer screen and bite. Phew. It was a friendly place, filled with curious people.

My favorite part of the whole experience had to be the fact that I was able to present in my pajamas. Not only had I just given my first real deal speech, I had done so in my pajamas. Two birds killed with one stone. Life was pretty darn good.

Take a look…

Austin Weihmiller is a member of the Youth Travel Blogging Mentorship Program