I really can not wait for SXSW Interactive this year. After having an amazing time last year blogging the festival with Cindy’s class, I became very interested in the tech world. We were able to meet many of the panelists and attendees, party at the Web Awards and learn about new technologies that have inspired us and challenged us to do more with less.

Last semester, I got an internship with SXSWi which is actually still continuing until the festival is over. Thus, I will be working hard with SXSW and helping them with whatever they need, bringing a whole different dynamic to my experience.

Seeing all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into each panel, each person and each event that happens during the week has allowed me to get excited about so many different aspects of the festival. But I think what I’m most looking forward to (besides the Chris Anderson keynote with Guy Kawasaki) is seeing B.J. Novak on the panel “Comedy on Television and the Web.” Because I have a broadcast background, I am very interested in TV’s move to the internet and video on the web, and The Office is my favorite show on television right now (next to The Bachelor, obviously). Their webisodes have always cracked me up. Along with that, I’m definitely going to Gary Vaynerchuk’s panel called “Video Blogging: Turning Wine into Gold.”

Some other events that I will try my hardest not to miss would be panels “Gaming as a Gateway Drug: Getting Girls Interested in Technology” with our very own Dee Kapila and Cindy Royal, “Oooh, That’s Clever! (Unnatural Experiments in Web Design)” and “User Generated Content: State of the Union.” Also, the Core Conversation “Whitehouse.gov 2.0: Upgrading to Open Source Government” looks pretty interesting.

I also didn’t get a chance last year to attend ScreenBurn or the Trade Show. I’m sure this year I will definitely get my fill of that craziness I’ve been hearing all about. Hence, some advice for anyone that’s new: go to as many different events as possible. Don’t just go to panels – attend Core Conversations, go to book readings, hit up Accelerator even if you have no idea what it’s going to be like, go to events that discuss technologies you’ve never heard of, don’t be afraid to talk to other nerds. What do you have to lose?

So much to look forward to, and so much to get ready for!