Between swaying from side to side and popping chewing gum, students stutter through the mandatory public speaking class. They hope to become invisible students while they shrink in their seats and to not make eye contact. Alas, the whole if I can’t see you, you can’t see me routine fails and their name is called. Trying to act like it’s nothing, students step to the front of the class and promptly become so nervous they forget their entire speech or better yet, their name. Yet, what is it that makes students or even adults for that matter so terrified of speaking in front of a crowd? Stammering through the speech, ridicule, or a little of both?

A video on public speaking sheds a little light on the situation. According to these experts, a person’s adrenaline begins to pump and just feeds the fear making the speaker even more nervous than before. If this adrenaline could be channeled into actually making the speech, the person in the spotlight could be rid of some of this fear and have better control over the situation.

Mrs. Weatherford, the Willow Springs High School speech teacher, revealed, “I was afraid of being made fun of, the ridicule, and making a fool of myself.” She also believes that these very reasons are at the heart of the problem for the students enrolled in her class. “Even just reading to me, students would shake and their face would get blotchy. Some people become so afraid they freeze up.” As the new speech teacher here at the high school, Mrs. Weatherford shared that she is trying to make public speaking safer by allowing her students the opportunity to get to know each other on a more personal level.

“Public speaking makes me nervous anyway, but speaking in front of adults that I know will be judging me…it’s terrifying!” revealed senior Krista Gale.

The goal of the class being required is for seniors to become more comfortable speaking in front of an audience in preparation of Senior project presentation night. Yet, for those of you who feel that public speaking will never be mastered, look on the bright side, speech class is only required for a semester during your senior year!