First Speech- Personal Experiences!

Well, my speech class just gave and survived the first speech of the semester: the personal experience. I think this is the speech that a lot of students struggle with. First of all, they don't feel that they have done anything "important" enough for a speech. They spend days trying to think of a topic and lose out on a lot of work time.
Second, it is always difficult to figure out all of the parts of the speech and how to be present them to a new audience that you feel is judging you and your story. Some students feel like the need to be humorous and some feel the need to tell a very deep, personal story.
But in the end, either type of story works fine. This speech is more of a chance for students to 'get their feet wet' in the speaking field. Some get so nervous that they start shaking and knocking their knees together. '
As a teacher, I think most students think that I can't relate to their issues because I love to speak in front of audiences....duh, I'm the speech teacher! But in reality, I still get nervous when I am asked to speak in front of a group. A few years ago during a pep rally, I got handed a microphone without know I was going to have to speak. I was tongue-tied, and fumbled through my thoughts. Afterwards, I told myself, "hmm, so this is what my students feel like?"

Since then, I've always tried to take at least one step back and remember that lesson I was taught that day. So my question is...does stage fright ever go away? Do you remember a time when you were embarrassed as a speaker?

Tomorrow is a fresh start!

As 1st semester was quickly ending, other teachers began to notice that I was frantically trying to cram all of the things I feel I need to teach to my Speech kids in. Teaching a semester long class is challenging; 1st semester always ends up being a little shorter than 2nd semester and one can easily feel rushed. As I was explaining this to another teacher (who teaches year-long courses), she reminded me of some of the positives of teaching semester classes. The biggest one: you get new students. Although it does feel like I just got to know my 1st semester kids and now they're gone, getting news students brings back the beginning of the school year feeling. Students are nervous about the new class and (somewhat) quiet. It will be interested to see how this semester goes in all of my classes!

Along with the new start of the semester is the start of a new year. New years always bring in new resolutions of how we are going to live healthier and be better people. I am guilty of making too many resolutions making it hard to keep them all going. So I decided to keep my vague in hopes of keeping these for the next 364 days!
1. Make at least one healthy choice a day (whether its eating an apple instead of a candy bar or working out for at least 30 minutes)
2. Stay positive in all aspects of my life.

Here's to new beginnings...both in the new year and in the new semester of classes!