My Experience and Opinion on Our First Public Speaking Presentation

 

My Experience and Opinion on Our First Public Speaking Presentation.

Yubisleidy Cordova

February 5, 2026.

Speaking in front of others has never comes easily to me and usually makes me feel anxious. For me, speaking in public has always been difficult. I get nervous easily, my heart races, and sometimes my mind goes blank when I know everyone is looking at me. Because of that, this class was a personal challenge from the very beginning. Just thinking about presentations made me anxious, and I was worried about how I would perform. As the semester went on, I started to realize that this course was not just about talking in front of others, but about learning how to communicate ideas more clearly and confidently over time. Seeing my classmates present helped me understand that I was not alone in feeling this way. Many people struggled at first, but with practice, everyone slowly improved.

Watching the presentations throughout the semester helped me notice how much growth was happening in the class. At the beginning, many students, including myself, seemed unsure and nervous when speaking. As time passed, I could clearly see changes in confidence, organization, and delivery. Some students improved their eye contact, others became more comfortable speaking without reading directly from their notes, and many learned how to control their pace and tone of voice. Seeing this progress made me feel encouraged and helped reduce some of the pressure I felt about my own performance. Listening to others present also taught me valuable lessons. As an audience member, I learned how important it is to stay focused and engaged. When speakers were well organized and confident, it was much easier to understand their message and stay interested. When speakers seemed unprepared or disorganized, it became harder to follow along. This helped me realize how much preparation matters and how it directly affects the audience experience. Another important thing I learned was how closely speaking and listening are connected. While watching presentations, I became more aware of audience reactions such as facial expressions, body language, and attention levels. These reactions showed me how speakers can adjust their delivery in the moment. This made me understand that public speaking is not just about delivering information but also about connecting with people and responding to them.

In my group, we were assigned chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, and I personally worked on chapter 13, which focused on informative speaking. Preparing this chapter helped me understand that an informative speech is not simply about sharing facts. It is about explaining information clearly and in a way that helps the audience truly understand the topic. I learned how important it is to organize ideas logically and make sure each point connects smoothly to the next.

Working on this presentation also helped me understand the importance of knowing your audience. When you consider who you are speaking to, it becomes easier to choose the right examples and explanations. Even though I felt nervous during my presentation, completing it made me feel proud of myself. I stepped outside of my comfort zone and successfully presented my part, which was something I would have avoided in the past. The beginnings and endings of presentations were another aspect that stood out to me throughout the semester. Strong introductions immediately grabbed my attention and made me more interested in the topic. When speakers shared personal experiences or clear explanations, it helped create a connection with the audience. Clear conclusions were just as important because they helped reinforce the main idea and made the presentation feel complete. I also noticed how visual aids affected presentations. When slides were simple and well organized, they helped support the speaker and clarify important points. When slides had too much text or information, they became distracting and made it harder to focus on the speaker. This taught me that visual aids should support the message, not take attention away from it.

Throughout the semester, I also became more aware of my own progress as a speaker. Even small changes, like speaking a little louder or maintaining eye contact for a few extra seconds, felt like important steps for me. I started preparing more intentionally and practicing out loud instead of just reading my notes silently. This helped me feel more in control during presentations. I also learned how important feedback can be. Listening to comments from my classmates and observing their reactions helped me understand what I was doing well and what I still needed to improve. These moments of reflection made me realize that growth does not happen all at once but through consistent effort and self-awareness. Not every presentation was perfect, and that was actually very comforting for me. Seeing common mistakes such as speaking too quickly, relying too much on notes, or avoiding eye contact reminded me that everyone is learning. It helped me feel less afraid of making mistakes and more willing to try. I realized that mistakes are part of the learning process and that improvement comes with practice and experience. Overall, this class pushed me far outside of my comfort zone. It was challenging and sometimes stressful, but it was also very rewarding. Public speaking is still something that I find difficult, but I now feel more confident than I did at the beginning of the semester. I learned that being nervous does not mean failure and that confidence grows over time.

Finally, at this point in the course, I can honestly say that my perspective on public speaking is slowly changing. While I still feel nervous at times, I am beginning to lose some of the fear of speaking in front of others. Each presentation helps me feel a little more comfortable, and each experience teaches me something new about myself. This class has shown me that growth does not happen overnight, but through small steps, practice, and patience. Even though I am still learning, I feel more confident than I did at the beginning, and I know that continuing this process will help me become a stronger and more confident speaker over time.