FHC Inspires 2023 Q&As: Cari Shaffer

Position: Speaker

Title: Spoken Poetry

Why did you apply to be a speaker?

“I applied to FHC Inspires because I honestly really wanted it. Ever since I learned about the TED Talks and FHC Inspires last year, I thought I could do it, I could stand up there and share what I have to say.”

How are you feeling about speaking at FHC Inspires?

“Super, super nervous. I have my talk down, but I still don’t know how it will be received.”

What was the process of perfecting your speech?

“Practice. Again, and again, and again. I did it In front of my laptop, in front of the mirror, and in front of my dogs.”

What does your message mean to you, and what should it mean to the audience?

“This message is how I have grown to be myself, who I am today. It is about me not being complicit, labeled as an introvert. I just want to be me is all.”

Did you ever see yourself speaking at FHC Inspires? 

“I did. Right up on that stage, in front of a bunch of people, I saw myself. I kept that vision in mind throughout the whole process.”

Does your Google slide presentation reflect your topic?

“It does, all it really is is a pretty background and the poem behind it.”

What’s the best time of day and why? 

“The best time isn’t even day, it’s night. I feel like I get much more done at night, whether that be because there isn’t much else to do, or because of the calm atmosphere of it.”

What’s something you can’t live without?

“A routine. I am someone who takes comfort in the simplicity of a routine. I get the same thing at lunch every day, and I eat the same three things for breakfast during school.”