![Kish, William [Biol]](http://blogs.longwood.edu/williamkish/files/2019/10/cropped-Buffalo-creek.jpg)
All my biology courses at Longwood have been helping me build skills and experiences that will help me be successful in future careers. It mainly started with my BIOL 288 course where I started pulling together my professional documents necessary for graduate school and future careers. My upper level courses honed my presentation skills and I was able to gain hands on experience for future careers. These have all been helpful since my final semester has been me applying for graduate schools. I have gained many skills and have grown professionally over the years. I gained the most experience through my two years of presenting at the Virginia Academy of Science (VAS).
My first professional setting that I presented at was in the spring of 2018. Longwood University held the annual VAS meeting where I presented my 2018 PRISM project. I also presented my 2019 CURIO presentation at VAS held at Old Dominion University. These meetings are a little different from the research symposium at Longwood where people of many disciplines present because they are made for people of the similar disciplines. These presentations helped me grow as a researcher and expanded my public speaking skills and how to present to people with a biology background. I also learned that with these types of meetings, it is best if you prepare yourself for more professional questions.
Another professional experience I had was a fall poster proposal session through VAS at Ferrum College where I was competing for research funding. This was a different experience from even the other since four judges came around each poster one by one. I was very nervous to present to four judges at a time since they had clipboards and were writing stuff down as I presented. Fortunately, I practiced my presentation many times and thought of practice questions. I learned how to dress professionally for meetings like this and how to professionally communicate with professionals while also understanding how to competently convey my information to anyone who I present too.
Through all of these experiences I learned how to competently present information in a professional setting. I gained valuable skills and experiences that will come in handy for my future careers. I was able to address people of all backgrounds and educational levels and to dress and communicate professionally.
Below is my 2018 PRISM presentation.
Below is my 2019 CURIO power point presentation.
Below is my Fall 2018 VAS Proposal.