Personal Writing : My Personal Narrative

The first time I had to do an actual speech in front of the class my mind went blank. I had studied the speech for a couple weeks and thought I was going to blow it out of the water. As I began to walk up to the front podium, I felt like my stomach was forming into a twizzler as I looked back at all

I stood there in anticipation, speech in hand, facing the crowd. Then, I ripped apart the speech, but I had no worries about the paper. After all, I had already memorized the whole speech. At that moment, my goal was to inspire people with my speech. I had never thought I would be able to stand there in the gaze of a giant audience.

In SGA, an E-board’s secretary duties involve keeping an accurate recording of all meetings and holding a record of all paperwork throughout the length of their office term. The skills required for that position are organization, written and verbal communication skills, and punctuality. Along with the position, each year at graduation, every E-Board member is given a task to complete during graduation ceremony; my task was to write a one-minute speech that coincided with the senior class gift I was to present at graduation. I had experience in making public speeches in front of a crowd but never in front of thousands of men, woman and children on such a memorable day. So upon delivering my speech, I had written and rewritten my speech making sure my message was clearly stated and my speech flowed. I practiced every single day before graduation and the morning of graduation. Anxiety had filled by body causing me to sweat and feel waves of heat before walking on stage to deliver my minute-long speech. However, once at that podium and under those blinding lights, I delivered my speech with confidence, ease and clarity, just like I practiced, making that experience the biggest and scariest yet, most fulfilling task I’ve ever

Standing in that long, obscure hallway, I could feel my stomach turning over and over like the sea on a stormy night. “What did I get myself into this time?” I thought to myself as I investigated each of my competitors waiting their turn to compete. I had worked tirelessly to prepare myself for today. The hours consumed typing and retyping a speech that had to have just the right phrasing. I had my mother and two of the best teachers I knew proofread speech and give me honest feedback. I ran through my speech numerous times, so much so that I was sure I could recite it in my sleep. I even rehearsed responses to the hypothetical questions the judges might ask me, and listened to my speech on repeat for two hours on the bus. It all came down to this. My opportunity to present at the West Virginia State FBLA Competition was a few minutes away. I sought to place at the State’s not only for myself and my club, but also for my mother. Prior to getting out of the car this morning, she gave me one of her famous pep talks to set me on my way. After that and months

From exploring the Internet to acquiring my classmate's opinion, I came to realize that nothing had worked for me and needed to come up with my own tactics. So, I've adopted the habit of practice until made perfect. This motto that I abide by has been utilized since the early stages of my life. I remember the first time I learned how to ride a bike. At first, I was taught the basic understanding. Then it was all about the enduring practice until I had gained confidence to successfully perform the task. I took what I did in the past, and I applied it to the obstacles that I had found most difficult such as riding a bike. Carrying over the same experience for the twelve-year-old me, I struggled with public speaking for as long as I could have remembered. In order to conquer this phobia, I had practiced speaking in front of the mirror over and over again, until it was simply second-nature to

As a member of the eighth best speech and debate team in the nation, I have written and performed over ten award winning programs and speeches. Ironically, I auditioned for the speech and debate team fully aware of my nearly debilitating stage fright. However, my courage to step way outside of my comfort zone, and the success that ensued, demonstrates my agility, adaptability, and

I began the speech that I had rehearsed a thousand times into my mirror. I watched as the students hung on my every word. Their expressions changed just as my parents had when I practiced my speech for them earlier. I could tell that I was inspiring and engaging each person in the

Remembering the best I could, I tried to put into action every piece of advice and practice. Emotion, inflection, gesticulation, and a crumpled speech -- all I had to try and make an impression. For once in my life I didn’t have to hold back; I had to ensure that everyone heard what I had to say and I was taking this chance. Three long minutes had gone by before I realized that public humiliation was a far-fetched misconception. I could finally breathe and wait until judging

The comforting sound of the click-clack of the keys, the smell of freshly printed words, the crisp feeling of having finished writing a master piece. For some, the art of writing is a frightening feat that has the equivalent appeal of being water-boarded. If you would have told me five years ago that I would be forced to write a five-paged essay with the use of scholarly books as well as peer-reviewed articles, I would have silently wept tears of fear. My writing is something that has taken me years to evolve and continues to be a learning process. From a young age I had always done everything in my power to escape having to write.

For years and years I was told that I needed to speak up and stop being quiet. Family members would come visit and I just never had anything to say. I didn’t speak to anyone and was constantly afraid of what people would think of me. My freshman year of high school, I was known as the silent, timid girl who never said a word in class and got nervous presenting. I only had three friends, mainly because of the fact that we were forced to sit next to each other in class and we happened to get along. In my sophomore year, I joined Key Club with two of my friends and they convinced me to run for a position. After lots of persuasion, I built up enough courage to go through with it. Shaking and red-faced, I stood up and gave my 2-minute speech. When

During my speech this time, I was very nervous. I was thinking about volunteering for the fourth place, but was chosen first, so I went third. I do not like being put “on the spot” for earning a medal, being first through third place. This was in addition to my mom’s condition being fairly new. Even as I looked up information, I had to stop to allow myself some time to think. Some facts where down-right frightening to me. I wasn’t sure that I would even make it through to the presentation, I constantly considered changing topics, but that wouldn’t happen so close to the presentation date.

When I entered that classroom I knew that I was going to end up having a nervous breakdown in the middle of my performance, but I didn’t expect the tears. I reached a point in my speech where I just suddenly stopped talking. I couldn’t take the panic and fear anymore, so tears started to fall. This moment felt like it lasted a lifetime, and all I wanted to do was run out that door, but I knew that I had to get it together. I somehow pulled myself together, choked

I was asked to speak at my high school graduating class and was informed that I will not have to write my own speech, however, it was going to be all on a manuscript. Sounds easy right? Wrong! I am not a comedian or a news anchor; therefore, I am going to sound like I am telling them a story from inside a library. Giving a speech on a manuscript takes great skills. There are good benefits of letting someone else write the speech, furthermore, it takes skills to make a speech sound like it is coming from my heart and not sound like I am reading it word by word. It is more interesting to see someone walk around and make eye contact, not be looking at a monitor the whole time.

“Red Rover, Red Rover, send Chase right over!” I could hear the laughter of the kids running around outside. “Ryan! Get back to work! Stop looking out the window!” My teacher barked. I felt trapped and isolated. As a child, my negative experiences in writing overshadowed the positive ones. These negative experiences all started in elementary school. I was selected to be part of an enrichment program. In this program, I worked on special assignments and community service projects. For example, I gave a presentation to other kids at the school about firework safety. I even helped make bandages from old bed sheets to give to hospitals in Ghana. I also went on various field trips. One that I still remember to

Back on Tuesday, September 19, I (along with the rest of the class,) gave my first speech in Oral Communication Class. It was our first speech assigned/presented in class, and its topic, Self Introduction. Some people may find it challenging, but I see it as a very simple subject to talk about. Who knows more about you than yourself? No one! So why do people find it so hard to talk about? I had a funny feeling that the day the order of our speeches were assigned that I’d be the first person to give their speech. Sure enough, I was the first person to give their speech. I’m genuinely glad that I was first because I was able to “get it out of the way” and not have to stress on it. Giving a speech in front of my peers is nowhere near as nerve racking or terrifying as I thought it would be, but upon giving my speech, I would like to reflect on how I felt the day of my speech (in terms of confidence levels,) some verbal and delivery skills which I used well/not as well, some improvements that could of been put in place for my speech, and who in the class I believe gave the best speech among us all.