(Peer Success Leader, Duke University Class of 2026, Major: Cultural Anthropology, Minors: Chemistry & Global Health)
I'll be honest, when I found out I'd been accepted into the oral competition for the Duke National Health Research Conference, my first reaction wasn't excitement. It was probably something a bit closer to dread.
The Challenge
I knew my research well. I had lived it. I’d talked about it in poster sessions, small groups, interviews, and casual conversations over coffee. I’d spent months defining the project, refining it, piloting it, and presenting it. I'd lived through the sticky nights, climbed up to the highest of the highest houses in the Colonia, and administered the survey in Spanish and English more times than I could count. But ten minutes at the front of the room, in a competition, trying to compress months of work into something that actually landed in front of judges? That felt like a completely different task.
I’d heard about the new VOICE Lab created by the Academic Resource Center (ARC). While I’d loved the Academic Resource Center’s SAGE and tutoring programs, I was a bit more hesitant about the new VOICE Lab. Standing outside the ARC before my appointment I began questioning myself, thinking, Do I actually need this? Will it even be helpful? At this stage, shouldn’t I be confident enough to practice myself? Then I reminded myself that resources like these exist for a reason, so why not try it.
I’m very glad I did.
The Session
My session was with Reed Colver, Associate Director at the Academic Resource Center. I sat down in the conference room, shared my slides onto the TV screen, and practiced articulating my thoughts for the competition. Sharing my findings with someone completely new to my work gave me a fresh insight. She helped me rethink not just what I was saying, but how I was saying it.
Three main takeaways stood out to me from our session.
First, I was reminded of how important it is to truly center your audience, shaping your message so it resonates with the people in the room. Thinking about my audience helped me better understand what I should clarify, what I should spend more time on, and how I should frame my delivery.
Second, I realized that even the most complex research needs to be grounded in a clear, compelling story. Instead of listing findings, I started thinking about how to guide listeners through my work in a way that felt engaging and intentional.
Third, I learned to simplify, focusing each slide on one key takeaway so my message wouldn’t get lost in the many details of my work. Ultimately, my audience didn’t need every granular data point or context I noticed as the researcher, but rather a clear sense of why the work mattered and how we arrived at the final results.
Conclusion
As we move into a season filled with opportunities to present, whether that’s the Undergraduate Research Symposium, thesis defenses, or other interviews or presentations, it’s easy to deal with the nerves on your own, especially when you know your material. Yet taking that extra step to use the Academic Resource Center’s VOICE Lab allowed me to see the gaps in my ability to explain and feel a real difference in my confidence and clarity.
If you’ve ever felt anxious about a big oral presentation, you’re not alone. This resource can be your anchor. If you’re on the fence, this is your sign, try the ARC’s VOICE Lab! You don't have to be struggling to benefit. Sometimes you just need someone to sit across from you and help you hear yourself differently. The biggest growth can come from simply deciding to walk in and see what happens.
