Speaking in front of a group can be a challenging, yet rewarding
task. Good public speakers however are made, not born. Learning
to be a good public speaker is a talent that can be honed and
used throughout life. As a student there are numerous
opportunities to speak to a group. It could be your homeroom,
classmates at a club meeting, the entire school at an assembly,
community leaders at an event you may attend, a church function,
or even job seekers looking for potential employees. The skills
associated with being a good public speaker have always been an
important part of the 4-H experience. Public speaking is
generally not on everyone’s favorite thing to do list. But
almost everyone will be faced at some time or another with the
daunting task of talking in front of a group. But why are we so
afraid of this? Why do we so fear getting in front of other
people and talking? Most people are their own worst enemy. They
fill their heads with thoughts like, “I’m going to forget what I
have to say,” “I’m going to