How I felt about my presentation - Stephany Asencio

 Presenting in front of others has always been an experience that leaves me both excited and anxious. As I prepared for my recent presentation, I couldn’t help but feel very nervous . The thought of speaking in front of an audience always made me uneasy. As I reflect on how I felt during and after the presentation, I realize that it was a journey of growth, and  a sense of accomplishment. When I first learned that I would be giving a presentation, the thought of standing in front of a small class room of people and speaking especially with the possibility of making a mistake was nerve wracking. Public speaking has always been an area where I felt challenged. The opportunity to present in front of an audience whether small or large offers a unique chance to share ideas, engage with others, and grow personally. Recently, I gave a presentation that provided me with valuable insights into my public speaking skills, as well as my ability to connect with both myself and the audience. Through this experience, I not only learned more about my capabilities as a speaker but also discovered how to build with the people listening and, most importantly how to stay connected to my own sense of purpose and confidence .As I worked on my material, I had to balance between making sure the content was informative and engaging while also ensuring I could speak about it naturally. The first step in the process was not just organizing the information, but also practicing how I would deliver it. This involved not just memorizing facts or slides, but truly internalizing the message I wanted to convey about the different types of public speaking. I learned more and more as each group presented their projects and each chapter was something different to learn about. While the other groups went first, it was also a learning experience observing the way the groups did their slides gave me ideas and inspiration. This project was something I had been dreading since I heard about it at the first lecture! I had never done a presentation before in my life and and I was very nervous before getting up in front of the class (as well as while I was standing in front of them!!). I would completely blank out mid-sentence and pause for quite a long time before getting back on track again, becoming more comfortable with presentations and getting up in front of a large audience is something I know and will have to get used to for the future. Public speaking plays an essential role in both personal and professional development, it not only fosters effective communication but also builds confidence, strengthens leadership skills , and creates opportunities for growth. Public speaking is not limited to formal presentations, it also plays a significant role in daily conversations. Whether we are speaking with friends, family, colleagues, or even strangers, being able to express ourselves confidently and is essential in building strong relationships. For example, I noticed how a simple conversation could flow more smoothly when I was able to communicate my thoughts clearly, just as I had during my presentation. The most obvious situation where public speaking skills are always very useful is an actual performance in front of a group of people such as a public address, presentation of a new project at work, or a motivational speech. In such situations, the speaker can represent a group of fellows or the ideas important for many people. Due to this, a successful performance and efficient delivery of information are highly valuable and important. When one person is chosen to speak on behalf of many, it creates a certain pressure and responsibility for the speaker. In the case of the successful performance of one, the whole group will benefit. The good public speaker has to be able to present the information, keep the audience interested in the delivered ideas, and defend the point of view in case of criticism or counter argumentation. The skills of public speaking provide one with courage, confidence, and the ability to fluently express themselves. One more situation that demonstrates the importance of public speaking skills is a casual conversation with a stranger. People are social creatures, interpersonal relationships of different kinds are highly important for us. Starting and maintaining friendships, being close to family members, having romantic relationships makes our lives easier and fuller. A skillful speaker will be able to represent themselves in the best and most appropriate way. This can be quite a challenging occupation. Performing in front of just one person is another variation of public speaking . Successful personal representation in any situation, will it be a first date or a job interview, is extremely meaningful for anyone. This is why the development of public speaking skills is considered highly beneficial.