“You need to start surrounding yourself with people who believe in you.”
Those were the words my mother said to me as I’m panicking for my presentation. Throughout my four years of high school I hated presentations. I never really liked it and would always try to get out of it best way possible. The fear of speaking in front of people always got the best of me. I would feel like I’m getting judged. The students in the class would discourage me, making me feel worse hence why I would try and not present.
My mother intentions was never to hurt my feelings but I felt that she thought the people I knew only looked down upon me. My goal was to prove my mother wrong. I thought to myself that my class mates do believe in me. When the day finally came I was panicking more than usual. All the students who went before me, told me “I don’t think you can do this” and it’s super scary to up there and present” teasing me. The fear began to grow even more. I didn’t believe in myself and wanted to leave the classroom. However, this girl I never really spoken to said “you got this, I believe in you Ruth”. Those words made me feel better. I thought to myself maybe I should hang around people who believe in me instead of making me feel scared.
After the presentation my class mates said I did a really great job and they didn’t think I had it in me. I felt like I prove to my class mates that the negativity wasn’t going to stop me. As I sat in English I new that I need to be around better people. Once again my mom was right, hanging around people who believe in you does motive you to try your best.
Hi, Ruth, I loved the story! I do agree that sometimes parents really don’t understand the impact of their words and how they may not fully understand the situations their kid(s) is/are going through. I used to freak out a lot when I had a presentation, or another public project, too. I’m glad you preserved through the struggle and played it smart by surrounding yourself with positivity.
This could be the seed of good story!
What exactly happened on that day of the presentation? What was the presentation about and what was the class? What were you going to talk about? What was the background or context of the event? Why were the other students speaking negatively to you? Were you feeling like you didn’t belong that you didn’t have friends in the class? What was your social group like at the time?
What details do you remember about feeling nervous — SHOW me shaking in your shoes, or heart pounding…Then how did it feel as you got going in your talk? WHO was the girl who spoke encouragin words?
HOW did this event of public speaking change you? Did you gain confidence in your abilities?
AND did you change your friend group?
Is this also a story about changing friend groups? As well as a story about finding your confidence — to speak and to make a change in your social group?
I could agree with what your saying. I feel like even when sometimes parent’s don’t mean to hurt us with the things they say, they end up doing it anyways. I’ve been in similar situation in the past where people would say certain things that would cut pretty deep. The worst part of those situations is that they wouldn’t even feel bad or know that they are in the wrong.