Thomas Austin - The Journey
After noticing a call for presenters post on the MSU site, I spent weeks deciding whether or not I would apply. The Imposter Syndrome is strong with this one!! I thought, surely this sort of honor was reserved for the elite members of MSUs community. Who would want to hear from a lowly Social Worker about Trauma and Mental Health? After a prolonged skirmish between my ego and my heart, I took the plunge and gave the application my all. It took only a couple of days for my application to be accepted and to be honest, it was met with a flood of happiness and relief; followed almost immediately by the thought “what the heck did I just get myself into?!”
The road to the stage has been strenuous in ways I had not imagined. I quickly realized that this talk would be far more personal than I had initially intended. I am focusing on utilizing this opportunity to demonstrate that true courage comes from vulnerability. My story is what drives my passion for the work I do, and I truly hope my message can reach others who may feel similarly. I find that the reason you decide to do something is often more important than the outcome. For me, this talk represents years of work both professionally and personally and marks a huge milestone in my career as well as my personal Journey.
I can’t wait to share it with you all on Sept. 10th!
