{"id":37553,"date":"2019-02-21T16:19:27","date_gmt":"2019-02-21T21:19:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/?p=37553"},"modified":"2019-02-21T16:19:27","modified_gmt":"2019-02-21T21:19:27","slug":"worry-523-class-presentations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.studentlife.utoronto.ca\/lifeatuoft\/2019\/02\/21\/worry-523-class-presentations\/","title":{"rendered":"Worry #523: Class Presentations"},"content":{"rendered":"First of all: can you believe we\u2019re halfway through the semester already?\r\n\r\nIt feels like only yesterday I was writing about Halloween.\r\n\r\nAnyway.\r\n\r\nThis semester, I\u2019ve been in a class that has really been pushing my boundaries; which typically I would enjoy, although in this case, it\u2019s something I am very sensitive about.\r\n\r\nEvery class, which happens once a week, five individuals have to stand up in front of the class completely alone<\/em> (no power point, no table, nothing), and present on the findings of a two-hour discussion had with your group.\r\n\r\nEach week the groups are different, and nobody is allowed to present twice.\r\n\r\nAs each week passed, I knew my turn to present was getting closer and closer. As overly dramatic as that sounds, the fear and worry I had about it was growing exponentially. I\u2019ve always had horrible nerves about speaking in front of people, but I\u2019m capable of it if I don\u2019t let my brain get carried away ahead of time, and I\u2019m able to plan for it. The problem with this situation, is that walking into class nobody even knows which group they\u2019re in, let alone who will be presenting.\r\n\r\nIn an attempt to calm myself down a little \u2013 and I admit, maybe I was hoping for a free pass \u2013 I went to the professor after class and mentioned that I was a little nervous about presenting, and asked if<\/em> <\/strong>maybe he had some tips.\r\n\r\nI definitely down-played the situation to him, and perhaps that\u2019s why he basically told \"A<\/a>me to buckle down and present.\r\n\r\nI don\u2019t want to say he didn\u2019t understand, because I 100% did not accurately describe my feelings about presentations. I could go back and elaborate to him, I suppose, but because I\u2019m a little stubborn, that\u2019s going to be my very last resort.\r\n\r\nThat being said, the way I\u2019m thinking about these presentations is not helping me out at all<\/em>. In fact, it is undeniably the only thing making me more and more nervous.\r\n\r\nSo, what can I do to prepare myself for when the time inevitably (sad face) comes? After talking with counsellors, parents, and going off of what little experience I have, there\u2019s one technique experienced public speakers all have in common: Visualization.\r\n\r\nI\u2019m 80% sure that everybody calls it something different, so here\u2019s a rundown: basically, you close your eyes and imagine yourself successfully doing that thing. So, what I would do is imagine myself going up there and presenting in front of the class.\r\n\r\nI was convinced I already did this\u2026 I mean, who doesn\u2019t imagine things happening? But the important thing is imagining the success<\/em>. I would only picture myself messing up, bursting into tears, or something similar. I never even thought twice about succeeding.\r\n\r\nI\u2019m hoping this changes things, and I\u2019m confident that it will; so many people have seen improvements. However, just to be safe I\u2019m tacking on a little something extra I learned from my orchestra conductor: put a sheet of paper up somewhere you can see it, and every time you succeed, make a little mark. It\u2019s probably important to clarify that this doesn\u2019t mean I have to speak in public in order to make a mark. Instead, every time I imagine myself succeeding, I\u2019ll make a mark.\r\n\r\nEven though I\u2019m still seriously worried, having techniques to try and minimize this has made me feel like presenting is something I can actually do<\/em>.\r\n\r\nIn the meantime, do you ever get nervous about public speaking? What are some of the things you do to prepare for presentations?\r\n\r\nHappy reading week everybody!\r\n\r\n ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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\nFirst of all: can you believe we\u2019re halfway through the semester already? It feels like only yesterday I was writing about Halloween. Anyway. This semester, I\u2019ve been in a class that has really been pushing my boundaries; which typically I…\n<\/div>
Continue reading “Worry #523: Class Presentations”<\/span>…<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>
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