Great Speakers Aren't Born Great by Andrea

Great Speakers Aren't Born Great by Andrea - August 2026 Scholarship Essay

The room was silent, but in my mind, the volume was deafening. I had just finished what I believed was a seamless presentation of my public speaking topic. However, I looked down at my evaluation sheet and saw feedback in large words circled in red pen, “slow down and breathe.” At that moment, I realized that giving a quality speech isn’t just about your intentions on stage, it’s about how the speech actually impacts the audience. This way of thinking entirely changed my perspective of how I picture great public speakers.
As I began to get further into my public speaking it allowed me to reflect on the mistakes I have made in the past. Before this realization, all of my speech performances looked similar. Every time I walked into a room, ready to give my speech, I did something wrong. I introduced myself plainly with nothing special to remember me by. As I headed further into my speech, I would fidget with my clothing, use filler words, and constantly pace back and forth. In addition, I had the impression that if I talk quickly, it will show that I know my speech and can quickly get my point across. Little did I know that all of these qualities that I believed were fine, actually cost me my area qualifier title.
After I got that one piece of feedback from the judges, I took a moment to understand my mistakes, “slow down and breathe.” Then, as soon as I got home, I corrected my mistakes. I began to record myself speaking, noting all of my actions and habits. Each day I practiced my speech as I was doing household chores and even in the shower. As I performed my speech with my revised habits in front of my advisor, she noticed the difference. I wasn’t that nervous-appearing person anymore, I seemed cool, calm, and collected. This experience transformed my approach to personal growth. It taught me that constructive criticism isn’t a reflection of failure, but rather an opportunity for continuous improvement.