Dale Carnegie, a famed author, once said, “If you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” This applies to me in a massive way. Public speaking was once one of my biggest obstacles, but I worked hard and overcame it. Ever since I was little, I had been shy and nervous in front of people, people who centered their attention upon me while I spoke to them. I was afraid of public speaking. My first encounter was a small one, but nevertheless, I was terrified. When I was in 2nd grade, my writing teacher gave me and my classmates the assignment of writing a personal story about a fun memory and reading it in front of the class. I dreaded the day I would have to say my speech. On the day of the speech,
…show more content…
My coach would regularly tell me to speak. During the beginning, most of the times I would get scared and resist. At some times, I would dread the day that I would go to class. Every time I tried, I froze up and wouldn’t speak. However, I kept trying. I started speaking, but with breaks, pauses, and stutters. I said speeches on my essays, poems, and stories. I said impromptu speeches on topics given to me by my coach. I practiced at home, in front of the mirror, to the wall. I joined a speech and debate club called FIRE and spoke in front of friends and others in the club. Every time I tried, it got easier and easier to do. Soon enough, I was much better than when I started. In the fall of 2016, I joined a debate team under my FIRE Speech and Debate club. Since arguing well is something I am good at, speaking got even easier and easier. At my first tournament, I was nervous. However, I found that it was somewhat fun to argue in a professional like manner. As I practiced and worked my speaking skills, I found it got easier and easier. I have now done four tournaments, and each one gets progressively easier to speak at. At my fourth tournament, my team and I won 13th place team out of over 100 teams! To me, that was a sign of great
My coach would regularly tell me to speak. During the beginning, most of the times I would get scared and resist. At some times, I would dread the day that I would go to class. Every time I tried, I froze up and wouldn’t speak. However, I kept trying. I started speaking, but with breaks, pauses, and stutters. I said speeches on my essays, poems, and stories. I said impromptu speeches on topics given to me by my coach. I practiced at home, in front of the mirror, to the wall. I joined a speech and debate club called FIRE and spoke in front of friends and others in the club. Every time I tried, it got easier and easier to do. Soon enough, I was much better than when I started. In the fall of 2016, I joined a debate team under my FIRE Speech and Debate club. Since arguing well is something I am good at, speaking got even easier and easier. At my first tournament, I was nervous. However, I found that it was somewhat fun to argue in a professional like manner. As I practiced and worked my speaking skills, I found it got easier and easier. I have now done four tournaments, and each one gets progressively easier to speak at. At my fourth tournament, my team and I won 13th place team out of over 100 teams! To me, that was a sign of great