Public Speaking Personal Reflection - Noel Calero

 Public Speaking Personal Reflection

                                                                                              Noel Calero

Doing my first presentation in the class was exciting but at the same time scary. Ever since the beginning, I've felt somewhat frightened about speaking out loud during class even though that's the main point of it. Naturally, I felt very nervous after knowing the instructions to the presentation and that I would have to definitely be speaking to the class. Although it was only through zoom, it felt as if I was standing right in front of the students in a physical classroom. But somehow still managed to gather the courage.

            Public speaking has never been comfortable for me, especially in English. Spanish is my native language, and even though I speak English pretty well, there's always that fear in the back of my mind. The fear of making a mistake or perhaps thinking that my classmates won't understand what I'm saying. So of course, knowing I'd have to speak in front of my entire class, even over Zoom, was definitely nerve-wracking.

But at the same time, it felt like a new beginning. A new stage in my life. For me, college isn't just about getting a degree, it's about growing. So I said to myself, "You're here. It's time to try new things, even the scary ones."

Our public speaking class is online, which I initially thought would make things easier for me. At least I didn't have to be in front of a crowd but Zoom has its own pressure. Everyone is like little squares on the screen, staring right at you. I could see myself speaking, which somehow makes it worse, and just hope my microphone doesn't cut out or that the Wi-Fi doesn't drop mid-sentence. Still, I thought it would be good practice.

The public speaking class was online, which I thought would make things easier. At least I didn’t have to be in front of a crowd, right? But Zoom also has it’s own pressure. Everyone is like little squares on the screen, staring right back at you. You can see yourself speaking, which makes it worse, and you just hope your microphone doesn’t cut out or your Wi-Fi does’t drop mid-sentence. Still, I thought it would be good practice.

Before it was my turn to present, I watched other classmates do it first. And you know what? Some were nervous too. I could relate to them. Some werec’t native English speakers either, I wasn’t alone. We’re all doing our best. We were all trying. When I began preparing my presentation, I discovered that my group had assigned me Chapter 14 of the textbook. At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but once I started reading, I found it interesting. The chapter was about different types of audiences and how understanding them can change the way you present your speech.

There were terms such as positive audiences (people who already agree with you), negative audiences), negative audiences (those who don’t),

divided audiences, uniformed audiences, and even apathetic audiences (those who simply don’t care). It was interesting to see how each group requires a different approach. It was interesting to see how each group requires a different approach. As an example, if people already support your idea, you just need to reinforce it. But if they disagree, you need to reinforce it. But if they disagree, you need to be more respectful, and perhaps use logic or emotion to connect with them. The chapter also discussed persuasive speeches and the importance of having a clear objective when trying to promote a certain idea. It’s not just about speaking, but about influencing people’s minds. It’s about getting your audience to see your perspective and even change their minds. That had a huge impact on me because I realized the power words can have when used correctly.

I took everything I’d learned and started working on my slides and notes. I wanted to make sure I clearly explained the types of audiences and gave same examples that would make sense to my classmates. I practiced a lot, out load, inc front of my laptop, even though I felt a little awkward. I was nervous, but also excited to finally face this fear When the day came, I logged into Zoom a little late. I was busy, so I had to go to a restaurant to attend my class to present. I made it to the end of the presentation, but thanks to my teacher, she gave me the opportunity to present my part.

At first, my voice was a little shaky. I talked about different types of audiences and gave my examples.

When I finished, I felt a huge sense of relief, and honestly, pride. I did it. I faced something that had scared me for such as a long time and overcame it. I didn’t freeze up. I didn’t forget my words. I didn’t get kicked off Zoom. I just… did it.

And more then just surviving, enjoyed it. I felt good to share something I’d learned. I felt good to be heard.