Imagine, you’re sitting at a table in front of an audience. You don’t know the people in front of you but they want to know you. They are ready to ask the hard questions. The ones you feel you aren’t ready to answer. Your chest feels tight, your hands clammy, suddenly you don’t feel comfortable in the chair you’ve been sitting in for 10 minutes now. Then someone announces that your session is about to begin and the room hushes down till it’s completely silent. Your throat is dry but you managed to utter “I’m ready for your questions now.” The first hand raises and it begins.
A panel like that is something I dream about. And honestly the act of publicly speaking terrifies me. Or should I say it DID terrify me.
Recently, I was asked to talk in front of the the most judgmental audience ever.
High school freshmen.
(Or at least that’s what I thought.)
My nervousness resulted in word vomit (that was to be expected), but I was honestly surprised at how curious they were. They listened intently, they drilled me about my life, college, and work. I sat in on a whole day and every class was more energetic than the last. Some questions made me laugh, some were very innocent, and a handful were challenging to answer.
When I said my goodbyes and finally headed home I felt– accomplished. Truly accomplished. That my work and words made a difference.
I didn’t realize that speaking like that helps me as much as it does the audience. It builds a special kind of bond I never knew I could have with strangers or KIDS for that matter. I’m not sure how I survived but I hope I inspired at least one of them to continue writing creatively. There was so much untapped talent in the room that their writing started to inspire me!
I believe in the next generation to help keep writing alive.
My note to other writers out there now, let’s pave the way for them!
Mina.E's Verses 