I have only been at CNU for a semester and a half, so I have only been to a couple of the PLP speaker events. When I started, it was not just the PLP speaker event, it was the PLP show. The creation of the PLP show was meant to make the event more exciting and engaging for students. Instead of having to sit and be talked at for an hour, which is not fun at all, the PLP show adds an extra element with game show music and hosts.
My favorite part of speaker events is when the music starts up and the two hosts for the night come together on stage and do a little dance/handshake before introducing the guest for the night. Though sometimes the fun little handshakes between the different hosts resemble each other from month to month quite a bit. I would love to see more elaborate and different introductions for the host and maybe even when introducing the guest speaker. This moment makes the night more lively and grabs the attention of the audience. I personally like how there are two brand new hosts for every show to keep the events different. If the same two hosts were to walk on stage every month, the events would become repetitive, even with different speakers. Though even with new hosts, these events still tend to be repetitive with how often we go to them.
The guest speaker for this night in particular was Dr. Cynthia Cherrey, the President and CEO of the International Leadership Association (ILA) and the former vice president of campus life at Princeton University.
I loved Dr. Cherrey on the PLP show because she was witty, catty, and had a great sense of humor. When she stepped foot on the stage she was using her smartphone to film the audience cheering as she walked in. I thought this was so funny because she looked so sweet and proud, like one of those moms filming their child at a sporting event. Throughout the event, she continued to joke with the host and make comments that sent the crowd into full-on laughter. Sometimes these events seem to drag on, so the breaks for laughter made all the difference. I can honestly say that this was the funniest PLP speaker event that I had ever attended.
Having speakers who really lean into the show makes it more entertaining for the viewer. When speakers come onto the stage super serious it makes the event less entertaining. If the speaker is not setting out to have fun with the event, it gets boring because it becomes purely a Q&A session.
At the end of every speaker event, the audience has a chance to ask the speaker questions. This part, to me, has little relevance because some students don’t ask serious questions. Also, the questions make the event last even longer and lasting later than I want to be out during the middle of the week. If students want to stay after the event to ask questions, I think that is fine. That way not only will they get their questions answered, but they would also get to talk with the presenter more. Taking questions from the audience is just not as personal as a one-on-one conversation.
Overall, last week’s PLP event was one of the best speaker series I have attended. Moving forward with the PLP show, I would like to see more people like Dr. Cherrey who are witty, catty, and not only there to share their experiences but also to have fun.
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