Mark Kelly Lecture

Mark Kelly Lecture: “Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope”

I was glad to attend Mark Kelly lecture at Southern University because Gabrielle Giffords and her husband represent the true story of courage and hope. As a couple they became a symbol of optimism, courage and love. Through his lecture, he shared with his audience Gabby’s remarkable and unforgettable story. Kelly delivered his message through his voice, through his body and made the audience living with him each experience.

Mark Kelly is an American astronaut, retired US Navy Captain since June 2011, and spent 35 years in the US Navy and with NASA. His mother, Patricia Kelly, was a police officer, His twin brother, Scott Kelly, is also an astronaut. Mark Kelly is the husband of former Congresswomen, Gabrielle Giffords, who was the victim of an assassination attempts in January 2011. The bullet wounded to head and caused a brain damage; she passed through many brain surgeries as well as months of physical therapy.

The lecture started with a video of Mark Kelly in his spaceship while he was sending a hope message from the space. This visual meant to be at beginning in order to have a deep impact on the audience, and it did. Kelly has his blue jacket with the American flags on it, symbol of his work; furthermore, he was sending a message through his clothing. He didn’t used any other visual aids, but he was the visual, moving along the stage, he attracted the audience from the beginning and kept their attention focused on him; he wasn’t attached to any microphone, or standing stiffly behind the podium in order to perform over the sage with freedom.

Kelly didn’t use just words in his speech, but his body told even more. The way he talked with his hands, talked with his gesture, and talked with his face is amazing. He establishes a rapport with the audience with his face and smile; even more, he managed to keep the eye contact with the big audience so easily. If you have a good body...