Christine Agius, a dental hygiene student, shares a recap of her experience, as the moderator of the SKD National Honor Society Conference.

“Attending the SKD National Honor Society Conference in Atlanta, Georgia was an amazing experience for the Winter 2022 semester! I was honored to be chosen to represent Plaza College.  Attending this conference gave me a great opportunity to network with my peers, share our educational experiences and career goals with one another.  I really enjoyed listening to the keynote speaker, Nic Stone.  She spoke about her book, Dear Martin and what inspired her to write a story about teens of color facing racism in modern day America, as well as her technique for writing books. 
 
I had the incredible opportunity to be selected as a moderator for the panel entitled, “When Two Worlds Collide.” Four students from colleges across the country spoke about their identities from personal, academic and professional perspectives and how this impacted the way they navigated and adapted relationships, responsibilities, and society roles. Their stories were deeply personal, meaningful, and relatable.
 
Moderating this panel enhanced my leadership and communication skills. I developed an awareness to foster audience dialogue while also holding space for the speakers to respond. The panel Q&A turned into an academic roundtable as audience members shared their thoughts, questions and stories empathizing with the speaker’s experiences. This trip also gave me a chance to explore the area and submerge myself in popular attractions in Atlanta, Georgia with Director Cohn. We visited the Martin Luther King Historic Memorial Site, the World of Coca Cola and the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. This experience was so educational and also so much fun. I am thankful for Director Cohn and Plaza College for this wonderful opportunity. This adventure will never be forgotten.”