We all have an embarrassing moment and for me, my most embarrassing moment came when I was a senior in high school. Learn how I took charge and overcame this nightmare...read more!
Part of our graduation requirement was to do a Senior project. We had free reign on choosing our own topic as long as it wasn't a specific career. We had to do research and do community service, or a special project attached to our topic. In the end, we had to create a portfolio to showcase our work and present this project to an interview panel.
I had chosen my topic to focus on how low self-esteem affects boys and girls differently in their adolescent years. Something I knew a lot about since I was going through low self-esteem at the time. It was time to present my project to the interview panel and out of nerves I completely forgot my whole speech, my topic--everything! My mind went completely blank. I felt like a deer caught in front of an incoming car's headlights and I completely froze!
I knew I had received a very low grade in the interview portion of the project and it made me very upset with myself because I knew that I had worked all school year on this project and I let myself down. I went home that day feeling angry with myself and I vowed to never let this fear of public speaking over take me the way it did that day.
I'm not saying that public speaking is for everyone and studies show that fear of public speaking is number one on majority of people's list, (roughly 75% of the population) but I can tell you from experience that one can deal with managing the focus from yourself and deal with the message you want to present.
Check out the tips offered from The University of Iowa here on how to manage your fear of public speaking.
Focus on the message, not on yourself.
Always thrive,
Mayra :)
PS- What are the things you do to get ready for a public speaking event or presentation? Share below or on Facebook. When I get five comments, I'll share a tip that never fails me with you. Thanks!
Part of our graduation requirement was to do a Senior project. We had free reign on choosing our own topic as long as it wasn't a specific career. We had to do research and do community service, or a special project attached to our topic. In the end, we had to create a portfolio to showcase our work and present this project to an interview panel.
Hello, is anyone home?
I had chosen my topic to focus on how low self-esteem affects boys and girls differently in their adolescent years. Something I knew a lot about since I was going through low self-esteem at the time. It was time to present my project to the interview panel and out of nerves I completely forgot my whole speech, my topic--everything! My mind went completely blank. I felt like a deer caught in front of an incoming car's headlights and I completely froze! I knew I had received a very low grade in the interview portion of the project and it made me very upset with myself because I knew that I had worked all school year on this project and I let myself down. I went home that day feeling angry with myself and I vowed to never let this fear of public speaking over take me the way it did that day.
My "ah-ha" moment
Fast forward to a few months later, I was a college freshman and one of the first required classes I had to take was Communications 101... a speech class. I don't remember the professor's name but I remember his exact words that have always stayed with me. He told the class: "When you're in front of people doing a speech or a presentation, keep the focus away from yourself, and instead, focus on the message you want to give out. You're in control of the situation, the room, and most importantly, their attention." These words hit me like a ton of bricks. He was 100% right on this one!
I'm not saying that public speaking is for everyone and studies show that fear of public speaking is number one on majority of people's list, (roughly 75% of the population) but I can tell you from experience that one can deal with managing the focus from yourself and deal with the message you want to present.
Check out the tips offered from The University of Iowa here on how to manage your fear of public speaking.
The new me
I'm not going to lie, I do get a little anxious before speaking in front of a group and that's completely normal but I will admit that I love presenting new information to the students I work with. I thrive on classroom guidance lessons because in the end, my information and resources to my students is way more important to me than what I think of myself when I present.Focus on the message, not on yourself.
Always thrive,
Mayra :)
PS- What are the things you do to get ready for a public speaking event or presentation? Share below or on Facebook. When I get five comments, I'll share a tip that never fails me with you. Thanks!
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