Reflective Journal Entry – Hosting My First “Tropical Talk”

In July, I had the chance to co-host my very first “Tropical Talk” alongside Mikaail. For context, “Tropical Talk” is an RVI initiative — an online session where someone is invited to share their passions, whether they are youths or industry experts. It was both exciting and nerve-wracking to be in the host’s seat this time instead of just helping from the sidelines.

Our speaker was Simarna, and I truly appreciated the time and effort she put in, from preparing with us over a pre-event Zoom call to delivering her talk during the actual session. Working with her was an amazing experience, and her openness and energy made the event flow naturally.

During the session, everything went relatively smoothly despite a few minor hiccups. The audience was engaged, and the chat box was buzzing with thoughtful questions. That felt like a success to me, seeing people genuinely curious and involved. At the same time, I noticed something about myself: I didn’t speak as much as I hoped. I felt like Mikaail and I could have done more to prompt questions or guide the flow of conversation. This left me reflecting on how I could take a more active role in future sessions.

Even so, I’m grateful for the experience. For a first attempt at hosting a Tropical Talk, I think it went well, thanks to the hard work of everyone involved. I’m especially thankful to Simarna for being such a wonderful speaker, to Mikaail for co-hosting with me, and to Daryl and Sheila for their support and advice throughout the process.

Looking back, this event showed me that hosting is not just about keeping the program running, but also about building a dynamic connection between the guest and the audience. It’s an area I want to improve in, but I’m proud of how we pulled off this first session together.