Speeches

    This week I had to give a speech in my communications class.  I know that most of you are feeling my pain and have gone through exactly what I have gone through.  But this knowledge does not make me feel better in the slightest when the time comes to actually give the speech in front of my class.  I get extremely nervous, almost to the point of locking up, but I force myself to give the speech because it is the only way that I can make the grade that I desire in that particular class.  I get hot and immediately begin to sweat when it is my turn, not to mention that I can feel my hands shaking even though everyone says it doesn't look like I'm shaking.  Even now I feel myself begin to get the anxiety of speaking in front of people just from describing it.  After the speech is given I think "that wasn't so bad, it'll be better next time" but every time I feel the same exact way that I felt the time before.  I know that my anxiety isn't at the worst level it could be but it is bad enough to stop me from speaking up during a class or even volunteering to help with something.  I guess I just have a fear of the unknown, not knowing how people will react to your speech or your actions, but who isn't? 
    The worst part about this is that I don't just have one speech to give I have two, along with several presentations in a few of my other classes this semester.  I know that this is not the worst thing that a class could assign for you to do, but it is one of the most dreaded assignments that can be given (at least it is in my book).  I really like my communications class over all, don't get me wrong, I just hate with a passion having to give speeches in front of people whether I know them or not. 
    Another bad thing about the speech I had to give this week is that I had to give it on the same day that my biology test was on.  So I had to study my speech and my biology notes at the same time and try not to get them mixed up in my head.  In the end however everything worked out well, the biology test was much easier than I expected it to be and the speech went well over all (I think).