Silence No More: How I Found My Voice in Public Speaking

I sometimes sit and wonder how I went from singing, dancing and taking part in all on-stage related activities as a kid to hiding in the back seat when people are needed to represent a group or the school as a teenager.

Back in primary school, I would always make sure to be actively engaged in anything that has to do with a graduation or carols night event because I wanted to hop on that stage and do my thing. And oh,I loved the feeling of my parents and family coming to spread money on me on stage.😅

Then, fast forward to senior high school. I didn’t want to join the debate team or any club related to public speaking even though I knew I would be a perfect fit for the team. I wouldn’t even sit in the front row in class. You’d either find me hiding somewhere in the middle or in the back seat. Also, I would always someway somehow manage to fall sick on days we had to do a presentation so that I wouldn’t stand before others to speak.

From what I know, the fear of speaking in public is called glossophobia but I didn’t think that was my problem. I knew I was good at public speaking but how did I just start to shy away from it all of a sudden. Looking back, I’d like to believe it was because I lost a bit of self confidence and I allowed others to intimidate me. This made me always want to hide myself because I felt I wouldn’t be able to meet the requirements but it was all in my head.

In the university, I once got selected to do a presentation for a team and I straight out told the team leader I couldn’t do it. For a talkative like me, everyone was surprised to hear that from me. The team leader also told me that he wouldn’t let me sit and not do it because he knows I can do it and do it well.

The next day, I didn’t show up for our meeting. Guys, this team leader of ours came to my hostel to knock on my door. 😂 I wasn’t expecting him so when I just opened the door all I could say was ‘ Awanah, I can’t do it’. He laughed and told me to get ready cos he came to pick me up since I decided not to show up.

That day was my turning point. Within a twinkle of an eye, I got back to normal. Learning scripts and presenting like I wasn’t the same person who said I couldn’t do it. I look back and think about what would be of me if this young man who was our team leader didn’t believe in me and push me out of my shell. I also had supportive team members who were always ready to help you reach your target.

They’d make time to help me memorise my script, fix my standing position and even my general body movement. I don’t mean to brag, but my voice was already fire. I still needed to work on a lot of other stuff also. Soon enough, I wouldn’t say I became perfect,but I felt more like myself and started to talk in public freely.

With time , I found myself on big stages before big people and I made sure to leave my mark. Sometimes I get nervous and that’s fine, but that doesn’t stop me from delivering. No one is going to beat me for doing my thing, they are just as human as I am and I didn’t need any reason to feel less of myself. I am who I am and no one can take that from me.

Sometimes all we need is to have supportive people around us to bring us out of our shell and I was lucky to have that. Now, I also make sure to give back to others in any way that I can just like others did for me because we rise by lifting others.

all images belong to me.