Julien
Morales
The presentation
I am not a great pick when it comes to presenting. I get
super anxious and sweaty, and I lose myself. Listening to other people present
before me usually helps with my nerves. During the presentations, however, the professor
was very encouraging and sweet with the way she was speaking, and with the
people presenting. I felt at ease. By the time I finally stood up to speak, I
still had that nervous energy, but I also felt more comfortable knowing it was
okay to make mistakes.
Being in that environment taught me that presenting isn’t
about perfection, it’s about growth. The encouragement from my professor and
classmates made me realize that every presentation is a chance to improve, not
something to fear.
What I
learned
Even with the common
knowledge of how to present/give a speech, I never knew how much detail goes
into a speech. I learned a lot from my peers, from learning how to carry oneself
to learning that every little thing in your surroundings goes into your speech.
Each group covered a different part of the process and seeing everyone explain
their topics in their own way made the material make a lot more sense than just
reading it on my own. I liked how some of the information I learned connected
speaking to everyday communication, like job interviews or casual
conversations. Other people’s chapters were on confidence, which every
presenter showed differently. Some were nervous, but you could tell they had
worked on their delivery. It reminded me that confidence isn’t about being
fearless, it’s about being prepared. Other chapters consisted of listening,
which really stood out too, because it showed that being a good speaker also
means being a good listener. Paying attention to your audience matters just as
much as what you say. After those chapters, I learned that developing and presenting a
speech takes a lot more behind the scenes work than I realized. Some presentations
focused on researching, organizing, and shaping your ideas so your message makes
sense to the audience. Others highlighted how important it is to have a clear
purpose and know exactly what you want your audience to take away from your
speech. Choosing the right topic and tailoring it to fit your listeners can
completely change how your speech is received. I also learned that supporting
your ideas with real evidence or examples gives your words more credibility and
helps people trust what you’re saying.
Another thing that stood out was how much organization
matters. The groups that had strong outlines and transitions kept everyone’s
attention from start to finish. It made me realize that well organized speech
is easier to follow and more enjoyable to listen to. On the other hand, when a
speaker seems unprepared or their ideas jump around, the message gets lost no
matter how good the topic is.
The last few chapters which were the ones my group did, I feel
brought everything together and focused on how to deliver your message
effectively. I learned how language, visuals, and body language all work
together to make a presentation more powerful. Using clear and simple language
can make even complicated topics easier to understand, and the right visuals
can help highlight key points without taking over the presentation. The
delivery itself, things like tone, posture, and eye contact showed me how much
your presence influences how your message is received. Even small details like
your gestures or how you move around can change the energy of the room.
Overall, I learned that public speaking isn’t just about
standing in front of people and talking. It’s about preparation, structure, and
connection. From developing ideas to delivering them confidently, every part of
the process matters. Watching my classmates present made me appreciate how much
effort goes into creating a strong speech and how, with practice, anyone can
become a better and more confident speaker.
The
Future
Learning how to present or give a speech properly, to reach
a crowd and to project yourself is a very useful skill. In the future, I really
hope to get better at that. I want to learn how to organize my thoughts in a
way that makes sense not just to me, but to the people who listen. Sometimes I
know what I want to say, but I struggle with how to say it clearly or
confidently. I think this class will help me figure out how to plan, practice,
and present in a way that connects with an audience.
I also hope to improve how I handle nerves when speaking in
front of people. Watching my classmates present showed me that even the most
confident speakers still get nervous, but what makes a difference is how they
manage it. I want to get to a point where I can speak with confidence and not
let that nervous energy takes over. I know it won’t happen overnight, but I
want to use every presentation as a chance to get more comfortable and find my
own style.
By the end of this class, I hope to be able to give a proper, well-structured speech that flows naturally and keeps people engaged. I want to be able to use my voice, body language, and tone to make what I’m saying mean something. Most importantly, I want to walk away from this class knowing how to express myself in a way that feels confident, clear, and genuine skills that I know will help me far beyond the classroom.
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