What I will take from this class

I was actually really surprised at how much I will be able to take from this class. I thought that it was going to be the class that I was just going to have to suck it up and get through because I knew I really was not comfortable speaking in front of anyone. Now, I know that I will have so much more confidence if I ever have to give another speech, which is probably pretty likely at some point in my life, I know that all I really need to do is make sure that I have prepared myself for at least a few days beforehand. Also, I think the outline could be really helpful even if it is not a very formal speech. In the future, I may have to give a speech at a friend’s wedding or give a presentation at work. Now, I feel like I will know how to prepare myself rather than just being anxious and stressed up until the big day.

Concept from the class

One concept that I will be able to take from this class is how being prepared really decreases your anxiety. Before this class I had been so nervous about speeches every single time that I encountered them in any of my classes. I realized after taking this course that this was because I was not fully prepared and also that I was not using the strategies for building confidence before an oral presentation. I think that visualization, relabeling, and relaxation were key in helping me not be nervous about my upcoming speeches. I didn’t know before this class that there even were methods like these to help you in overcoming your anxiety. By addressing my various uncertainties, such as my uncertainty as a speaker, uncertainty about my ideas, or uncertainty about my speaking abilities, I was able to get up in front of the audience and be a lot more confident because I had prepared for the things I may have been uncertain about in speeches before this class.