becky's presentation on social media at BYU

In May of this year, I had an opportunity to be a formal presenter at my alma mater -- Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. The event was BYU Women’s Conference. My assigned topic:

You Are More Than Your Social Media Profile

PRESENTATION

"Success in life doesn’t come down to how many likes we get or how many social media friends or followers we have. It does, however, have something to do with meaningfully connecting with others and adding light to their lives,” observes Elder Gary E. Stevenson. We need to be vigilant in how we use social media and other technology. It can be used for good or it can become a stumbling block to our spiritual progression. How do we keep social media from “distracting us or inhibit[ing] our capacity to discern things as they really are" (Elder David A. Bednar)? How do we better manage our time spent on social media and other screen time? How do we avoid comparing our real lives with the mirage of perfection we see online?

You can catch my full presentation here. It's less than 30 minutes.

** The views and opinions expressed in this presentation are Becky’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Brigham Young University or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

NOSTALGIA

In 1994 I showed up to BYU as a 17 year old, eager for the next chapter in my life and yet pretty intimidated to be among thirty-some-thousand overachievers. I honestly don’t even know how I got accepted in the first place, but that day I received the acceptance letter was literally the happiest day of my life to that point. But guys … I struggled in college. Academically, I was a wreck. I spent many hours crying about it on the phone with my parents. My grades were embarrassing. I felt lost … and yet … completely at home. Weird, right?? I know. But that was my reality.

Thankfully I got my act together and 4 years later I walked side by side with my husband in that graduation ceremony (with good grades), just before we embarked on the NEXT chapter. So here’s where I’m feeling ALL the feels: that day in May of this year that I was back on the BYU campus to be a presenter ... 23 years after being a new student. I found myself again surrounded by so many capable, intelligent, talented people. Those feelings of intimidation creep back in and yet … you guessed it … I feel right at home.

I don’t know why I was selected to be a presenter at BYU Women’s Conference. There are plenty of women who would do a better job. But that isn’t the point. That’s never the point in life. We each have a place. A voice. A purpose. A reason we’re supposed to do whatever it is we’re doing, when we’re doing it. So that day of presenting, I was embracing my fears and feelings of intimidation, just as much as I was embracing my confidence and feelings of knowing that this was where I was supposed to be and what I was supposed to be doing at that moment.