Scarier than Halloween: Public Speaking

I have never been a terribly confident person and have therefore not been comfortable with public speaking. I get my moments when I feel very passionate about a subject, and the heat in my heart takes over my head, pushing the words right out of my mouth. I have found in the past that if I really try to be an eloquent speaker, though, all the sentences in my mind get tangled up around my tongue.

I have found in my classmates similar feelings about public speaking. It's a little odd that we all want to be teachers since teaching is a profession which requires one to talk.all.day. But it's different with kids. They are forgiving and not so judgemental and cute.

I feel very fortunate that I was required to take a public speaking course last semester. I thought it would be one of those courses that I was annoyed with...feeling like I am being babied by my university and feeling like I should get some sort of exemption because I am in my 30s for heaven's sake. But it was actually pretty great. I took the class with my sister which made it a bit easier, and I had a dynamic professor and lots of interesting classmates.

My first couple of speeches went ok, but they weren't fantastic. I was actually disappointed with my performances, and something quickly shifted in my head. There is something more powerful in me than my fear, my nervousness, my anxiety. There is a desire to communicate, and yes, to teach!

My first successful public speaking experience in my life was this one:


Uploaded on authorSTREAM by tiffanyallemand

I care about the subject tremendously and so, I really sought out to do well: to inspire someone, anyone. And I think I did.

I had an interview at my university last month (it is something that all education majors and minors must go through), and I will admit it: I was terrified. My classmates' fear was really affecting me, too (sure, I tell myself that I am a woman in my 30s with a lot of life experience, but when it comes right down to it, I think I might always be a little bit of that girl who STILL has nightmares about forgetting her locker combination and her schedule and heaven forbid have to stand up in front of a class of my peers!). The interview was really just about my thoughts on teaching and why I think I'll make a great teacher, a subject I am entirely comfortable with. BUT, we were told there would be a committee of people and a written portion of the interview- all very formal and serious and important, ESPECIALLY when teaching has become your goal, your dream, your future. So, yes, I panicked a bit. A lot.

The morning of the interview was hectic and rainy, and I misunderstood where I was supposed to go and was about two minutes late. And I felt sweaty and gross from running all over and stressing out about being late, and I felt unsure of myself and scared scared scared. But all of a sudden I was writing about education and talking from my heart about education.

"Reflect on your personal strengths that you will bring to the teaching profession," they said.

"I am organized. I am creative and resourceful. I am motivated and efficient. I have a drive in me that will not stop until I am the best educator I can possibly be. Most of all, I am an optimistic and happy person with a sunny disposition. [big smile] My motto is: 'wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.'"

It just so happened to be raining that morning. :)

And I survived the whole process. No, I excelled at it. One of my professors was on the panel in front of me (a professor I respect greatly but who intimidates me because she is a genius and who up until this point I had tried to impress all semester), and later in the day when I was attending her class, she called me out in front of everyone, saying that I had impressed them all and was eloquent.

And that I had brought the sunshine...

So, yes, something has shifted in me. I have since that interview given several other presentations. I know that there will always be a healthy amount of stress and nerves along with public speaking, but it's manageable. Perhaps it's even exciting. Teaching is making me a more confident person. When something is right in your life, it's right!