My whole life I have had a terrible fear of public speaking. I hated everything about it. Everyone staring at you, the fear of messing up, the fear that everyone is secretly laughing at you. I was always quiet in class and reluctant to raise my hand and participate.

So when my mom made me sign up for Speech Team, I was extremely nervous. In Speech Team you are given a piece to learn and then compete with other kids from around the state. My brother and sister graduated from Stanley Clark in 2012 and were very shy. They did not participate in any activities like Speech Team or the play. However, my mom was determined to help me put myself out there.

In my first year of Speech Team, I signed up for memorized duos where you have a book with your piece in front of you and perform with a partner. At the first competition, I was so nervous, but with the help of the Speech Team captains I got over my nerves and we placed in the competition. Throughout the year, with the support of my classmates and captains, I realized I had nothing to be afraid of.

I am now in my third year of Speech Team and I love it. I have gotten more and more comfortable and I am now performing in a memorized event on my own. On my first day of middle school, I never expected to be as open as I am now. I love to participate in school plays and give presentations. Now when I’m in class, I feel empowered to speak up. I consider Speech Team to be a big part of this. I feel so fortunate to have been given this opportunity to grow as a speaker. I am confident that the skills I have learned in Speech Team will serve me well in the years to come.