Public speaking is often terrifying for college students. The speech class we all have to take as general education can be more stressful than even the most difficult courses.
Honestly, I have the same fears as most students do when it comes to this topic. My greatest fear when speaking is messing up words or embarrassing myself. Therefore, I surprised myself when I volunteered to give an extemporaneous speech at a forensics tournament in Lincoln. I started speaking in front of people at a young age, but my speeches were always memorized and thoroughly prepared.
Speaking with only 30 minutes of preparation would have sounded crazy to me a few weeks ago. However, it was near the end of the forensics season, and I still had not come up with a persuasive or informative speech for competitions, so I decided to throw caution to the wind.
I would soon find out that it was one of the best decisions I have made in my life.
I sat down to prepare my speech. I may not have known about Myanmar’s recent election 30 minutes before the event, but I became an expert on the topic as quickly as I could. When I gave the speech, I felt something that is so uncommon in my daily life: confidence. Even though my performance was not the best, I felt like I was able to connect to an audience. I realized that although I had not planned to compete in this event, it was something I wanted to do again next year.
While not every student might have the same experience as me, I believe that public speaking with limited preparation can be healthy for a person’s confidence. Beyond that, it is a life skill that students should develop before entering the workplace. Presentations are a part of life in many careers, and knowing how to stand up in front of a room of people can be useful.
Being able to think and react quickly can also help a student in their personal life. When I did my first speech at the competition, I had to change my main points at the last second. This might sound stressful, but it helped me trust less in the note card and more in myself. For a student, being able to trust themselves in a fast-paced situation can help give a sense of security. No matter what happens, they will be able to adjust.
If you have tried public speaking for the first time and are still hesitant, that is completely normal. Repetition and practice are the key for this activity.
While public speaking can be intimidating at times, it is important to put the fear into perspective. Whether you are speaking for a class or a panel of judges, it is OK to be imperfect, especially on your first try. As with anything, practice and hard work will get you the results you want. Whether you are speaking for professional development, a competition or just for fun, public speaking can help you overcome your fears and build a healthy level of confidence.
