College Admissions Essay: The Benefits Of Public Speaking

Paper firmly grasped in hands, palms sweating more than ever, heart beating through my ears, my turn came to present in sixth grade english class. I looked down at my paper, then back at the fifty-two beaming eyes all focused on me, silently waiting for me to begin. Speaking in front of my classmates like this made my middle school self more insecure than ever. Dozens of questions rambled through my brain. As soon as I was finished and made it safely back into my seat, I was eternally grateful to not be the center of attention anymore. I decided that at all costs, I would do my best to avoid public speaking throughout the rest of my career as a student. Public speaking was evidently not a strong point of mine. Although always being fascinated by those who could captivate and persuade a people, I found myself always among the audience. I wrote my poem on the exploitation of women in American media, something I knew I was passionate about, something crucial to the ears of the students of Freehold Township High School. I practiced reciting this poem over and over again to enhance the conviction of my words and limit the chance of humiliating myself in front of the entire school.
After trying to adjust the microphone for an uncomfortable few seconds, I began to speak. my words filled the school auditorium, and everyone was listening to what I had to say. Any sense of awkwardness left my body as I spoke. I could feel each one of my words crashing and breaking the hot silence that came before. A thousand eyes watching me and I continued to speak with the same fearless passion I had once only admired from afar. I believed in my words greatly and each one was said with more conviction than the last. As I finished, the school applauded me. Peers and teachers, a thousand hands clapping for my