Bragging rights

One of the classes I'm taking is public speaking. Realizing that if anyone who knows me reads this, they are going to laugh themselves into hysterics, I have to tell you ... it's got to be the most evil required class (second only to math) the education system came up with! I DO like to talk and I DO generally add my 2 cents... wanted or not... but I can do that from the back of the classroom or the back of a conference room or among a group of friends/family. It is NOT the same when forced to stand IN FRONT OF a group of people (in my case, this group is made up of kids the same age as my kids). While I don't want to come right out and say that these [kids] intimidate me, I can say that I've heard what kids like these say about people [like me]. I've never really been one to care much what people think about me, but I have to see these people around campus every day for the next 3 semesters. I'm supposed to be old enough and wise enough to "get" this ... to supposedly know what I'm doing. I tried to explain to my classmates one day how hard this class is for me. They laughed at me of course, because I do generally participate in class discussions, which [should] make it a piece of cake to "just stand up in front of us and talk" like I usually do.

While I think I am getting a little less anxious about my speech assignments (I didn't throw up before last weeks "informative" speech), I will NOT be sad when this class is over and I am SO happy that the requirement will be fulfilled.

P.S. After my informative speech last week the teacher said I aced the speech due to my visual aides (my chosen subject was Drunk Driving and how if effects everyone. I used a PowerPoint presentation that included pictures... graphic pictures... blood and guts tend to leave an impression).