“I’ll begin at the leisure of those above me, please give me a wink, a nod, a sign of life? I’m sorry, this is student congress after all.” I flashback to the final day of my English class. I look out at the lecture hall am greeted by sea of people. All I can think is that a psychological study done in the early 70’s found that people are more afraid of public speaking then of death. There’s a small chuckle in the room but I don’t hear it. All I can hear is my heart hammering away in my chest, my legs feel like they are going to give and I’m shaking all over. The only thought going through my head is, why. Why am I doing this? Why am I here? Why did I make this mistake? Then I remember how it all began.
It’s the first day of English class and …show more content…
If my head was not buried in a book then something was probably wrong. In grade school instead of paying attention in class I learned my lessons from Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. I learned it was easier not to speak than to be wrong. I was the definition of an introvert. Whenever there was a group project to be done I would offer to make all the slides in order to get out of presenting it.
Nothing. Two months of preparation and not a single word will come out of my mouth. This is unacceptable, I will not fail like this, I have come too far and worked too hard in order to say nothing. I steel my legs to make sure they won’t shake. I stop the tremors running through my body and again I open my mouth and finally as if by my magic I am speaking. Words come tumbling out of mouth, but they are not right. I know they are wrong but I keep pushing through until finally I cannot take being wrong any longer and then, “FUCK!”
In November, the teacher surprised our small class by announcing that before classes let out in December everyone would have to make a presentation of their choosing about a current events topic that they felt affected them. In a panic I ask, “Are we doing this in groups?” The teacher’s smug grin is the only answer I need. Before a single word comes out of his mouth I already know that I will be presenting by myself. My veil of protection will be gone and I will have to face public speaking head …show more content…
I look to the teacher in the back of the class but he’s an ocean away. A sea of my classmates separate the two of us and any chance I have of encouragement. “Mr. Peschansky I’m waiting”, I snap back to the moment and get ready to present. To this day, I have no idea what came out of my mouth but the teacher was so impressed he offered me a spot on the debate team and an all-expense paid trip to Columbia University so I could compete with hundreds of others students. Of course I refused. However, he emailed my parents and they forced me to go. Then before I knew it, I’m at Columbia University, and I realize that a psychological study done in the early 1970s found that people are more afraid of public speaking then they are of
It’s the first day of English class and …show more content…
If my head was not buried in a book then something was probably wrong. In grade school instead of paying attention in class I learned my lessons from Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. I learned it was easier not to speak than to be wrong. I was the definition of an introvert. Whenever there was a group project to be done I would offer to make all the slides in order to get out of presenting it.
Nothing. Two months of preparation and not a single word will come out of my mouth. This is unacceptable, I will not fail like this, I have come too far and worked too hard in order to say nothing. I steel my legs to make sure they won’t shake. I stop the tremors running through my body and again I open my mouth and finally as if by my magic I am speaking. Words come tumbling out of mouth, but they are not right. I know they are wrong but I keep pushing through until finally I cannot take being wrong any longer and then, “FUCK!”
In November, the teacher surprised our small class by announcing that before classes let out in December everyone would have to make a presentation of their choosing about a current events topic that they felt affected them. In a panic I ask, “Are we doing this in groups?” The teacher’s smug grin is the only answer I need. Before a single word comes out of his mouth I already know that I will be presenting by myself. My veil of protection will be gone and I will have to face public speaking head …show more content…
I look to the teacher in the back of the class but he’s an ocean away. A sea of my classmates separate the two of us and any chance I have of encouragement. “Mr. Peschansky I’m waiting”, I snap back to the moment and get ready to present. To this day, I have no idea what came out of my mouth but the teacher was so impressed he offered me a spot on the debate team and an all-expense paid trip to Columbia University so I could compete with hundreds of others students. Of course I refused. However, he emailed my parents and they forced me to go. Then before I knew it, I’m at Columbia University, and I realize that a psychological study done in the early 1970s found that people are more afraid of public speaking then they are of