I’ll be honest, I have actually attended (in the loosest sense of the term) SXSW a few years ago. It was enjoyable back then, but was merely a smaller piece of the grander experience I had the honor to partake in this year. There was so much to attend and experiment with, and having the exposure to all of this not only broadened my horizons with new ideas and desire to fulfill, but also encouraged me be active in making a difference for the sake of myself and the community that I inhabit–hence why I write about themes of hope and innovation frequently in this piece.

My tracks were diverse in their focuses and issues–Social and Global Impact, Government/Politics, and Entrepreneurship–yet all had a unifying theme of hope and optimism interwoven into their presentations. From a panel that highlighted the plight of surveilled people on China to the reality of the rapidly melting Arctic, the presenters were all optimistic in their goals and aspirations to solve these issues. Even in panels about finding peace among people in the land of Israel-Palestine and reaching out to the under-served mothers of our nation, the optimism expressed from the success of the project was what drove these individuals to share their work with the SXSW crowds–not to mention hearing inspiring words at “Conversations About America’s Future”! All of these and countless others inspired me to be more active in working for a positive change in technology and the social realm, whether I contribute to a worthy cause or work directly to influence that change.

The things that made it a tech convention were out in full force as well. There was so much to explore and to work with hands on, but the virtual reality (VR) at both the trade show and official VR Showcase were the true show stealers! The Time Machine, among other, was exceptionally innovative in that it used photos from 1964 Shibuya, Tokyo to recreate a simulation of the city and juxtapose it with the modern day (complete with 4D effects and a dog statue). Other notable attractions included the dance party found in Runnin’, a trip to Botswana courtesy of Texas A&M, and a walk into an astral plane that illuminated the world’s many dying languages. And, to cap all of this off, having the ability to see the still wonderful Joan Jett and exploring the delectable Cheeselandia to my heart’s delight rounded out the experience in both a meaningful and adventurous way!

Overall, this experience reaffirmed my desire to work and explore to real of Mass Communication, and encouraged me to think outside the figurative box when it comes to being innovative in said service and exploration. I am definitely going to make a point to return next year, and encourage all who have the means to attend SXSW as well–there really is something for everyone!