Research says that public speaking is a fear that most people have and a few years ago I was one such person. It was a regular day at school when one of my teachers called me into the staffroom. She asked me if I wanted to give a speech at the Independence Day celebration in our school.

At first, I was very excited to be part of this celebration. A part of me wanted to say yes, but I was also very nervous because I had never done something like this before. My teacher encouraged me and promised me that she would help me in every step of the way. Eventually, I agreed.

Next day, during a free period, my teacher sat with me and helped me write the speech. When I first read it aloud, I stuttered a lot as I wasn’t very confident. So I practiced it in every free time I would get — in front on my teacher, in front of my class, alone, in front of my friends, in front of my parents and even in front of the mirror. Basically, I practiced till I could pronounce and deliver every word properly and with confidence.

Finally, after days of practice, the day of the celebration arrived. Since it was the 14th of August, I dressed according to the theme and wore a green and white outfit. A few days earlier, our teachers had instructed all participants to arrive a little early, so I made sure to be on time.

All the participants, including myself, were seated in a separate room, away from the guests. I sat quietly, clutching the paper with my speech written on it, silently going over each line, trying to calm my nerves as I prepared to deliver it.

The music played in the background as I nervously waited for my name to be called. When I finally heard it, my heart skipped a beat. A strange, uneasy feeling grew in my stomach, and my heart screamed at me to run away. But in that exact moment, my mind replayed all the hours of rehearsal and practice I had put into this moment. It whispered to me, “If you back out now, all your efforts, all the hard work, will be in vain.”

With that thought, a wave of courage washed over me. I knew I couldn’t let everything I had done go to waste.

As I stood on stage, I could spot some familiar faces, my mum, my friends. Everyone’s eyes were on me, waiting for me to speak. I could feel my hands trembling, but I gripped the microphone firmly. After what felt like an eternity, which was about five minutes later, I finished my speech and the room erupted into applause.

I stepped off the stage, my heart pounding as if I had just run a thousand miles. My hands were cold, even though it was a summer day. But as I looked around, I saw my teachers and friends smiling, their faces complimenting me on how well I had delivered my speech.

Three years later, to this day, I still love giving speeches. Whenever there’s a speech competition or performance, I always make sure my name is on the list of participants.

I won’t say that I don’t get nervous or anxious before going on stage now, because that would be false. However, it’s definitely not as bad as the first time. I guess you could call it exposure therapy, where you face something that makes you anxious repeatedly until, over time, the anxiety becomes more manageable or less overwhelming.

So, if you’re reading this and you’re planning or practicing to give a speech, don’t worry, you’ve got this! It might feel overwhelming, and you may doubt yourself, but trust me, you are more capable than you think. Prepare as best as you can, don’t let negative thoughts get in your way, step onto that stage and crush it!

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 31st, 2025