BLOG 1
Isabella sequea
September 16 , 2025
When I first signed up for this class, I honestly didn’t know how to feel. I’ve always been a nervous speaker, and it doesn’t matter if it’s in person or through Zoom , the nerves always find me. As soon as I know I have to present, I start overthinking everything. I’ve seen people completely freeze in the middle of a presentation, and honestly, I’ve been one of those people before. I always worried it would happen again or that I’d lose control of my emotions and end up crying in front of everyone. Just the thought of that possibility made me anxious before I even started.But as we went through the different presentations in this class, I started to realize something important. Public speaking wasn’t just about logging into Zoom, turning on your camera, and reading off slides. It wasn’t about rushing through so you could be done as fast as possible, which is something i tend to do because of nerves . It was something more than that. It was about learning how to connect with people, even through a screen, and about sharing your ideas. And sometimes, once I let myself relax, it can actually be enjoyable. . It started to feel like something meaningful instead of just an assignment I had to get through.Looking back at two of the four projects our class worked on, I can see how much they helped me grow. In the first project I worked on , which covered Chapters 9 through 12, I was responsible for doing the introduction and the conclusion, and I am also one of the project manager for the class . At first, that role felt like way too much pressure., I felt like everyone was counting on me to have all the answers, and that made me nervous because I didn’t want to mess up or let anyone down. But after a while, I realized we were all just figuring it out together. We all wanted the same thing to get through the project and do it right and that made me feel more comfortable about doing my part..Doing the introduction and the conclusion taught me a lot. Being the first one to speak felt like the scariest part, because everyone’s eyes are on you right away. And being the last one to speak also felt like a big responsibility because you have to wrap everything up and leave people with something to remember. But after I did it, I realized it wasn’t as bad as I thought. In fact, it showed me how important those moments are. A good introduction grabs people’s attention and sets the tone, and a good conclusion makes your words stick. That project also made me notice how much the little things matter the way you use language, the way you design your slides, even just slowing down your voice or pausing at the right time. I started to see that presentations aren’t just about talking; they’re about being intentional with every part of it.The second project, which covered Chapters 13 through 17, was another turning point for me. I connected a lot with the chapters on distance speaking and group presentations because that’s literally what we were doing in this class on Zoom. Those chapters felt like they were written for me . They talked about making eye contact with the camera, speaking clearly, and using visuals in a way that makes sense when you’re online. Presenting on Zoom is tricky because you can’t always see how people are reacting, but those tips helped me feel more prepared to still keep people engaged through a screen. The group part was another lesson. It taught me how to rely on my teammates, share responsibilities, and be ready to speak when it was my turn. At first, that was stressful, but then I realized, again, it wasn’t just about me, it was about all of us working together. That made it easier, and it showed me that public speaking isn’t just for school projects. It’s something you end up doing in all kinds of situations, whether it’s at work, at an event, or in a group setting.What surprised me the most was how much this class helped me outside of it. For example, when I had to do a presentation in my English Composition 1 class, I noticed I felt more prepared and less nervous than I normally would. I remembered to slow down, to breathe, and to focus more on connecting with my classmates instead of just trying to rush through. That made a big difference for me. Another thing that helped was watching my classmates here. Everyone always seemed so prepared, and their presentations were really clear and well explained. Seeing that made me want to put in more effort and made me feel like I could improve, too.. That helped me so much because it made me relax, and I think it made me sound more relatable and easier to listen to.Altogether, these two projects, along with learning from my classmates, gave me tools that I know I’ll continue to use in the future. They helped me slow down, calm my nerves, and feel less anxious about public speaking. They showed me how to start strong, how to end strong, how to use visuals effectively, how to handle online presentations, and how to be a good teammate in group work. Most importantly, they showed me that public speaking doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be real. It’s about connecting with people, sharing your ideas, and doing your best. This class gave me more confidence, not just for these assignments, but also for other classes and for my major in the future. I know I’ll probably always get a little nervous before speaking, but now I feel like I can handle it better, and that makes all the difference.
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