Speaking in Public

Hello! It's Cayla again. This month's article will be about speaking effectively in public. I'm mostly doing this so I can help others who are also struggling with what I'm struggling with. As well as helping me with my research and growing my knowledge on this topic. My target audience is students, beginners in public speaking, and people dealing with confidence or anxiety. In the book “The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking," Dale Carnegie added a frequently asked question: “Do you think it will be possible for me to learn to speak at this late date in life?” “Learn to speak” here does not mean learning from scratch; it means learning public speaking skills such as clarity, confidence, voice control, and delivery. Dale Carnegie emphasizes that speaking publicly is a skill that is practiced and learned over time. To answer this question, yes! It's never too late. In this article, I will share all the tips I learned, as well as insights from High school student Julian Castillo.

My personal journey with public speaking has just begun. I've felt nerves that I have never felt before. Honestly, it is pretty scary, but no matter what, I learned that being under pressure or feeling uncomfortable is the best way to learn and overcome your fears. This year I faced many challenges, but instead of backing down, I rose to them because the biggest competitor is yourself and your thoughts. The only person holding you back from that thought and taking action is you. A quote I recently read in my daily affirmations is “I am allowed to be nervous yet still act with courage. ”Courage is not about being fearless; it is about speaking up even while you feel anxious. It reminds you that nerves do not disqualify you from being confident or effective. This quote is a great reminder: courage grows through repeated practice and small wins, not by waiting for perfect confidence or timing. I asked Julian what methods he used to get better at public speaking, and he said, “I first started getting better at public speaking by talking positively to myself. This is a huge part of building confidence. If your thoughts are negative, you will receive a negative outcome; but if your thoughts are of value, I promise you will succeed at whatever challenge you face. Similarly to when I said you are your biggest competitor, you are also your biggest supporter. The way you can and will get better at speaking is by taking the first baby steps and practicing speaking on camera. This will help you become comfortable with yourself and focus on growing your voice first. Avoid using filler words (but, um, like, you know) as much as possible, even in your everyday life.

Similarly, challenges people face include the thought that “I have to sound smart.” No, you don't need to sound smart; the ultimate goal is to make sure your audience understands your points. The truth is, using difficult words forces your audience's brain to stop and try to translate a word. While that is happening, that person has just missed the next three important words. Julian faced self-doubt, but he overcame it. He says, “Getting over this takes time, one day you can think you’re on top of the world, and the very next you’re thinking back at rock bottom. You have to realize everything starts with your mind, think, speak, and act positively, which will stick with you further down the road. The more you practice it.” I 100 percent agree with him because I see this effect firsthand. I always try to start my day with affirmations because they help me remember to do my best. So please, please, please practice being kind to yourself, most importantly.

Another method, when speaking, that sounds silly but is actually challenging for so many people, including me, is the power of pausing. Humans naturally tend to rush or speed up when they are anxious. This causes the speech to be rushed, overwhelming the audience with information. interesting right! Yes, the pause is so important because it allows your audience to process what you have just said. The silence heightens anticipation and draws the audience back in. It allows you to use fewer filler words, making u sound more confident overall. Most importantly, it gives you a moment to gather your thoughts before you say what you're going to say next.

Public speaking isn’t something you’re just born good at; it’s a skill that takes time, patience, and practice. As both Julian and I have learned, confidence doesn’t come from waiting until you feel ready; it comes from taking action even when you’re nervous. Whether it’s speaking positively to yourself, practicing on camera, avoiding filler words, or using the power of pausing, each small step helps you grow. It’s also important to remember that you don’t need to sound perfect or overly “smart” to be effective. What truly matters is that your audience understands you and connects with your message. Everyone faces challenges like self-doubt or fear, but those challenges don’t define your ability; they shape your growth. So, if there’s one thing to take away from this article, it’s this: start now. Speak up, practice often, and be patient with yourself. Over time, those small efforts will turn into real confidence, and you’ll become a stronger, more effective speaker than you ever thought possible.