Every day, I work to match college campus speakers to the needs of student activities/affairs professionals. In doing the work I’ve learned a lot from my SA friends and try to share that with my speaker friends. The more they know, the easier we can create a win-win for the speaker and the school.
I’ve run into a lot of speakers who think college students should want to hear whatever they have to say. Just because it’s a topic that interests them, they think it should interest everybody… or worse, that they can MAKE it interesting to everybody.
I don’t claim to be a guru, but If I tell them their topic won’t fly, or needs some adjusting to really impact today’s college student, they don’t agree, think I’m an idiot and wonder why they can’t get themselves booked. They’re in love with their topic and just don’t seem to get it.
Like I said, I’m no guru – and whether I’m an idiot or not is up for debate. But here are 13 speaking topic categories (I was born on a Friday the 13th and LOVE the number 13) I think work on college campuses TODAY.
1. Academic Achievement, Study Skills and Success in College
2. Alcohol and Drug Awareness
3. Campus Violence and Safety
4. Careers, Career Planning, Getting a Job After College
5. Cultural and Ethnic Diversity Issues, Cultural Celebrations
6. Dating and Relationships, Sex Education, Date Rape, Sexual Assault
7. Health, Nutrition, Weight Loss, Fitness
8. Leadership Skills, Student Leadership, Teambuilding
9. Money and Finance Related Issues
10. Social Media, Technology the Internet
11. Stress and College Students, Stress Reduction, Stress Management, Conflict Resolution, Life Balance
12. Veterans returning to college after serving in Iraq or Afghanistan
13. Volunteerism and Community Service
These are just one man’s opinion formed after taking a good look at the matter. If you’re in Student Affairs/Activities, help me out. I need to either confirm or deny my idiot status to my speaking friends. Can you add something I’ve missed? Delete something I’m delusional about? Tell me where the best chicken wings are in your neck of the woods? Any help is appreciated.
PEACE.
Rick
Great info, Rick. This is very useful for a guy like me who is now tweeking my topics to make them more relevant for today’s student. Thanks for sharing!
Perfect timing. Speaking at Texas A&M Galveston today and shooting it for a video demo. Thanks!
Thanks @DaynaSteele! Can’t wait to see that #RockStar video! Hey.. Check out this post for more video insight – http://www.ricksherrell.com/speaking/whats-in-your-video/. PEACE.
These are hot topics! You’ve listed all the good ones…the only topics I would add for consideration are knowing yourself and developing interpersonal skills (or soft skills). I’m not sure college students would identify interpersonal skills/soft skills as something they need, but a bunch of studies are coming out saying that this generation seems to lack those skills!