Last month, I was all set to attend the annual National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) conference in Washington D.C. The conference is always an exciting and enriching experience with lots of opportunities for learning and networking. The conference featured a full agenda of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and a Youth Leadership Summit Presentation. This year was especially thrilling for the Xcalibur evaluation team, because we were debuting embedded dashboards in SCRIBE, our data management system, to clients.
As any seasoned traveler knows, things do not always go as planned. This time, the cybersecurity software glitch caused airlines to start delaying and canceling flights. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the first notice of a flight delay. When I arrived at the airport, I was surrounded by thousands of passengers who had also been affected. The flight departure screens displayed numerous flight delays due to the glitch. I received several flight delay notifications, however, I remained optimistic until my flight was eventually canceled later in the evening. This meant I would miss the first day of the conference. Frustration and disappointment crept in, but I knew I had to stay calm and think strategically to see if I could find another flight to Washington D.C. I canceled my hotel reservation for the first night, because, as I said, I was still hopeful.
Long story short, I could not find a flight out to Washington, D.C. the following day and faced the hard reality of missing the entire conference. I, however, persisted and eventually found a flight out to Washington, D.C. Missing the first day was disappointing, but I was determined to make the most of the remaining days of the conference. I flew out on an early flight and arrived in Washington, D.C. on day two of the conference ready to dive in. I arrived early enough to attend the Morning Plenary session titled, “Overcoming the Inequality Machine: Helping Students Thrive in an Unfair System.” I also attended several sessions, listened to the Youth Leadership Summit presentation, and networked with Xcalibur clients and GEAR UP vendors.
Here is how I stayed on track and managed the situation:
- Stay Informed: I constantly checked my messages and airline’s app for updates. Real-time information is crucial when dealing with delays. Many people are not aware that you can see where your airplane is for tracking purposes.
- Stay Connected: I stayed in contact with my supervisor and colleagues to inform them of my travel delays. I also immediately informed the hotel to modify my reservation and not lose money, they were understanding and flexible with modifying my hotel reservation.
- Be Open and Explore Alternatives: I looked at other airlines and times to fly out to Washington D.C. Fortunately, I was able to find a flight and did not completely miss attending the conference.
- Remain Positive: It was important for me to keep a positive mindset. Delays are frustrating, and I honestly experienced a range of emotions, but I needed to stay hopeful, be patient and be willing to adapt.
Reflecting on the experience, I am glad I persisted and was able to attend to the NCCEP conference. Having faced numerous travel challenges on both personal and business trips, my consistent advice is to stay calm to manage the situation more effectively. After all, every trip is a story, and overcoming obstacles only adds to the richness of the story!
