AfroTech is Finally Here!
Afrotech is finally here. I going to apologize in advance for overusing the word excited throughout this post. For the past 3 months, I've been planning nonstop and talking people's ears off about how this conference is going to be everything I need. It's kind of surreal that I actually pulled it off. I'm a little sad that the preparation part is over because I know the weekend is going to fly by and once I return back home, all Afrotech talk will slowly stop. Afrotech has been my main drive since August. Starting my blog, creating a portfolio and doing tons of research on UX/UI design, all because I wanted to be ready for the conference. Even though I almost don't want it to be here yet, I'm excited to meet all the amazing people and have all the speakers talk some sense into me (because I really need that right now). I'm know for a fact that what I'm going to gain from this weekend will be 10x better than the conference alone. Whether it's new friendships, internship opportunities, or just new insights. I'm here for it all.
It hasn't been all fun and games prepping for this conference especially these past couple of weeks. I know days before leaving for a trip is usually stressful, but omg I've been a complete wreck. I'm literally writing this post in psych, taking notes and participating as I sit in my bubble tea that I spilled all over myself before class started. I feel like I don't have time to finish anything. A lot is being throw at me and I don't know how to sort it all out. The number one thing I've been trying to get together is my school work. Even though my weekend is going to be amazing, I don't want to come back to Temple finding out I have a F in Econ because I missed a deadline. I'm going to have to find time throughout the weekend to study for a test and finish a lab that's due when I get back. Hopefully the wifi connection at the conference is A1 because there's going to be a whole lot of multitasking going on.
With all that has to be done, I still want to make sure I take in everything I'm experiencing. I always fail at living in the moment because I tend to worry about things way too much. I'm not going to let that happen this time, especially because this will be my first time being in San Francisco. For years now I'be been obsessing to go to Cali. I blame YouTubers because for some reason they all move to California and live it up. My dad out of all people probably knows how much I've been obsessing because I've been asking him if we can go since since I was in 9th grade. I haven't had time to plan everything I want to do when I get out there because like my father would say, I have "piss poor planning" but I'm definitely going to go Pier 39 and see the Golden Gate Bridge (I really want to take a 3 hour troop to Yosemite National Park and pretend I'm in the movie 2012, but that's highly unlikely). I'm going to get it together though because I will not waste my 4 days by just winging, like I usually do. Ever since watching How I Met Your Mother, I have this bad habit of just saying "challenge accepted" like Barney Stinson instead of just getting things done on time and avoiding stress. So right now I have to edit my resume, finish my portfolio, pack and get my literary in order. I'm really not complaining because this is the exciting type of stress if there is such a thing.
I'm going into this conference with an open mind and no expectations. The goal is to learn and meet like minded people. I know Morgan Debaun and the Blavity/Afrotech team did their thing with this conference and won't disappoint. I have all these emotions going through me that I can't even describe but I'm ready to see what my weekend has in store.