To present or not to present... that is the dilemma

Ever since the first time I watched Krystal present for ad team freshmen year, I thought to myself how powerful she was and how envious I was that she could capture an audience like that. I wanted to do that.

I continued to watch awesome presenters year after year: Illyas, Megan and Laura - I idolized those guys. I couldn't wait for my chance to present.

And so the time has finally come. And I have the opportunity to present the campaign I have worked on for the past 8 months. And I'm not sure if I want to. It sounds absolutely crazy, but let me take a minute to explain myself...

I love what I do. I love advertising. I love the hard work and the sweat that goes into everything I produce, with my team or individually. Usually the long hours, the lack of sleep, the edits, the rewrites, the group discussions - and the group disagreements... they don't get to me. I embrace them. As learning experiences and awesome opportunities. I always used to think that in doing Ad Team, that I had to present in order to prove myself or to be the best. But I've also gone non-stop for 2 semesters. I don't find myself going out every night with my roommates or catching up on my favorite and latest shows. I'm working my ass off... because I know there is light at the end of the tunnel. I know that when I look back on college I can either remember (or not remember, for lack of a better way to put it) a blur of good times, hung over mornings, etc. or I can know I worked so hard (to the point that most people don't even understand) to grow and become better at what I want to do as a career. And that means a lot more. Gosh, this is sounding a lot like everything our campaign is built upon.

So, I called Megan tonight. We talked about it. She told me it was one of the most amazing experiences of her life; wishing that she could wake up everyday with the feeling of when the team presented and won at districts - but that she was in a different place. She directed every step of the way for the AIM Campaign. If she didn't present she would have been devastated. She told me she didn't think I needed that as much as she did and that she could see me being fine with sitting back and watching the presentation.

...

I think she's right.
I've put a lot into this campaign.
I'm ready to be on the sidelines putting in my two sense in, like always ;)
I want the freedom to experience my last month of college the way every one else is. By doing nothing - ha. Not exactly. Pretty far from it, in fact. But I do need some "me-time", especially if I am about to go out into the real world and work myself crazy.

Presenting won't make or break me. Decision made.