Oxford Argument

“Yeah, sure,” I said, temporarily feeling confident that taking up the offer and being a speaker at Oxford Debates would be no different than making an argument in class, just a bit more formal.
Minutes later my confidence fleeted, leaving behind only a thought horrifying at the time – I just agreed to speak publicly. While I had no trouble with participating in any sorts of debates or discussions, even formal, the prospect of speaking to a larger crowd scared me. I was afraid that I would make a mistake in front of strangers, that I would omit a crucial point in an argument or misspell a word.
Despite my fears, I kept my promise. After coming to the podium, I looked at the opposite team, then onto the audience…
And started my speech.
It is hard to recall how I felt at the time, as I simply relaxed myself as much as possible and went with the flow, relying on my rhetorical skills and preparation. What I do remember clearly was the relief after finishing talking – and the first thought afterwards, “that wasn’t so bad”.
Now, I mentor two new Debate Club teams, including people who – like me – dreaded public speaking. This experience taught me not to regret decisions before seeing their full effects, and that the shackles that are stained with most blood and tears are those that we put on ourselves – invisible, preventing us from reaching our full potential. From this simple moment I got far more than an expressive demeanor: I became a part of a community, the Debate Club; I grew as a person, became eager to share knowledge and abilities with larger groups of people than