I know the feeling all to well: the sweaty palms and the butterflies in your stomach. Your chest tightens up and you start to get nervous. You have feelings of anxiety and anticipation at the same time. Your name is called and you are next to present your oral presentation. Suddenly, you forget what you have to say, and your mouth is moving but nothing is coming out. Then you finally clear your throat but your voice cracks because you forget to breathe. That is how bad my fear of public speaking used to be.

For someone who is an extrovert, it was surprising how much I feared public speaking. I am not sure what it was that frightened me to get up in front of my teacher and peers and present a topic. But I felt that every time it was my turn to present, I froze.

I knew I had to do something about my fear of presenting. I have always been someone who has something to say but in a formal setting, I felt insecure. It can be uncomfortable and awkward to get up in front of a crowd and discuss a topic that you are not fully affluent with.

I do not believe that it is ever possible to get over your fear of public speaking but there is a difference between being afraid and being nervous. Nervous is a healthy feeling. You should feel nervous before any big event whether it is a sports game, an important exam, or an oral presentation.

I remember a teacher once told me, “picture everyone in their underwear.” As disturbing as that may be, it does help to know that you are in control. When you are the speaker, you want to grab the attention of your audience and be confident in what you are discussing. Own the room, use your personality and make the presentation unique.

It is important to realize that public speaking is a tremendous part of our daily lives. Even though you may be tempted to make excuses as to why you cannot present, do not run away from your fears. Always face your fears head on. This can relate to any aspect of your life. Understand that you can overcome your greatest fears. Practice, practice, practice. Ever hear that saying, practice makes perfect? Well, it is true! Whether that means practicing in front of your mirror, or giving a mock speech to your parents.

As humans, we are our biggest critics. We have self-doubt and do not give ourselves enough credit for the work we accomplish. Especially in public speaking, we fear that we spoke to quickly, or mumbled our words so it was difficult to understand. All of these thoughts run through our brain because we are being self-critical.

As I began to be more comfortable during presentations, I learned how to have fun and engage my audience. I used my personal characteristics to shed light on the situation. Direct eye contact with the audience is crucial to a good speech. Make sure to speak to the whole room and not just one spot. Let your hands fall to your sides and stand up nice and tall.

I taught myself to always be prepared and to be confident. I realized that an exceptional presentation came from a speaker who was enjoying themselves.

So from here on out, every time I step in front of a group of people to speak, I may be nervous but I have faith that I will be successful. I remind myself that it is normal to be nervous, but to be excited.