If the idea of giving a ten-minute speech in front of a crowd makes you nervous, you are not alone. Glossophobia, or the fear of public speaking, is one of the most common causes of anxiety. 

As a kid in junior high, I remember being petrified of speaking in public. Just the thought would cause my heart to pound in my chest, my hands to shake, and my knees to wobble. It’s one of the reasons I majored in Journalism in college instead of Radio, Television and Film. I could hide behind the pen.

But that’s different now, thanks to Covenant Toastmasters, a local chapter of Toastmasters International that meets on the campus of the New Covenant Church in Mt. Airy. The non-profit organization teaches public speaking and leadership skills to anyone who signs up. 

This year, the club is celebrating its 30th Anniversary with an open house on Feb. 23 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The club, with about 20 members, meets (virtually for now) on the second and the fourth Wednesday of the month.

I remember my first 5-7 minute speech. It was about progeria, also known as Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome, an extremely rare and fatal disease that causes people to age eight to 10 times faster than normal. 

Despite my best efforts, it was a disaster. I wrote the speech and planned to show pictures of two local children with a rare form of progeria called mandibulofacial dysplasia. I thought it would be easy because the meeting was held virtually, so I didn’t have to stand at a lectern.

Well, um, ah, er, like, you know I was wrong. 

Not only did I struggle with the pronunciation of the few scientific words I included in the speech,  I also wasn’t familiar with the technology. My speech ran a little over seven minutes, and I never factored in the time it would take to show all the photos I had organized in a folder. 

Even worse, I failed to pin the timer, which caused me to panic and ramble through most of my speech. Needless to say, I was devastated when the evaluator gave me her report. In fact, I dropped out of the club for the rest of the year.

Fast forward -  I recently rejoined and gave a great speech on how to alleviate stress using Box Breathing and other techniques. I even had props, including a bubble wand and roll-on essential oils. 

Thanks to Toastmasters, I am proud to say my public speaking skills and confidence have improved significantly and I am no longer terrified at the thought of giving a presentation. And I feel that I have found “my people” because I have never met a more supportive group. They are constantly pushing me to go outside my comfort zone. 

If you would like to find out more about Covenant Toastmasters, please join us for our Open House or go to https://www.toastmasters.org/Find-a-Club/4479-4479 for more information.