I can’t believe the semester is finally over, and here I am, reflecting on my progress in
this class. While some might suggest that they now feel confident speaking publicly, I would say
the opposite is true for me. I underestimated just how difficult public speaking truly is. I thought
because I no longer get nervous presenting in front of an audience, this class would be easy. It
wasn’t until mid-semester that I realized the amount of effort, thought, and consideration needed
for every speech. Throughout the semester, when I didn't meet my own expectations, I was upset
with myself. I couldn’t identify the root problem that was causing me to score so low in my
presentation, despite my outline being well-graded. Eventually, I had to sit down and reassess my
approach to this class. A mentor of mine truly enlightened me on the art of public speaking. She
told me that there's an extensive amount of practice that goes into public speaking that can
impact your delivery. From that day, my perspective changed, and the class got more interesting
for me. However, that was towards the very end of the semester.
My public speaking skills have grown because I've learned to be more intentional with
how I present myself and my speeches. Depending on the type of speech and time limit, the art
of repetition and practice have become essential to me. This has made me feel confident that I
will be able to perfect this ability in the near future. I hope to have stronger abilities to present
my thoughts concisely and effectively. On the other hand, my areas of improvement include time
management and learning to shorten my speeches. I underestimated how the length of written
content does not equate to the length spoken, and I am still learning to convey information from
my outlines to assure it fits in a timely manner. Practicing what you’re going to say to get
comfortable with the ideas written on paper makes it easier to get your message across more
effectively and concisely verbally. This is something I will continue to work on because I truly
underestimated its importance.
I see public speaking as a part of everyday life now. I know what attributes to focus on
when preparing a speech or to exchange with a group of people. I’m more aware now how to
assess my audience, figure out effective approaches, and methodologies of the objectives to get
my point across. Public speaking means I'll be able to properly advocate for myself and potential
clients. Whether I choose to become a diplomat or a lawyer, I know what components to look for
to capture the attention of different groups of people. The art of actively engaging with my
audience in a natural and alluring manner is something I wish to master.
In conclusion, as I say my final goodbye to this class, I would like to also thank you for
being my professor. I learned so many valuable and transferable skills in your course. I wish I
had taken this class sooner. My mentor's advice on the significance of practice was truly
eye-opening for me because although it should have been common knowledge, my
overestimation of the course overshadowed my ability to recognize it. While I've made strides in
certain areas, I acknowledge that there are still areas for improvement. Time management and
speech length remain challenges that I am actively addressing. I wouldn’t have paid much
attention to that had it not been for your class. However, I am confident that with continued
dedication and practice, I will overcome these barriers and come out strong. This course has been
transformative, allowing me to adjust my mindset to see things from a diverse perspective. I will
continue to perfect my skills as I embark on my new journey now that I am a college graduate.