It’s over!

Today is the last day of our speech class. I am excited to have this quarter finally over and I am very much in need of a break but I am sad to know I will no longer be hearing any of the wonderful stories my classmates have to offer. I can say I will miss this class and I will miss Candee. I have my last speech today and I am not nervous at all. I now know I have the ability to speak in front of a group, whether it be my speech class that I have come to know or a group of strangers, and I have a voice worth hearing.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to take this class and get out of it everything that I have. I came into just expecting to make my speeches and get out as quickly as possible and never thinking I would overcome my fear of public speaking but I was very wrong! And I am glad of that. I know what I have learned in this class will benefit many in many areas of my life, especially because of the career that I am going into and having to stand up and advocate for my clients. The class may be over but the experience and what I have learned will be with me forever. Here goes one last speech today, I know it will be a breeze.

-Ashley

Our Voices…

As far as demonstration speeches go, they were all wonderful and very interesting. I believe we all done a terrific job.

This class as taught me so much about myself this quarter. This week has been rough for me. I missed class Tuesday and missed all the visual reflections of what everyone has felt they learned the most. I feel my voice and stepping up is what I have got from this class the most. My sister just delivered her baby 3 months early. Not only is she in an abusive relationship and the beating was part of the cause for the premature delivery but the use of drugs also had to do with it. This class has given me the courage to use what I have learned to step up outside of class and in this situation to speak out for my sister and that precious baby that is in the NICU at UK. She is strong and a fighter. At only 2 lbs 2ozs right now she is going to pull through and make it!

I am very grateful for this and for the opportunity to learn everything I have in this class. It is a shame that many more students will not have the opportunity to have Candee as a teacher to learn this same thing.

-Ashley

Surprised!

The informative speeches are over and everyone did a terrific job! The whole class is very supportive and makes it easy to talk. I feel comfortable speaking and do not dread it. Speech class was the one class I thought I would hate and could never get through and here it is almost over and it is my favorite class this quarter. That came as a big surprise to me but I think it has a lot to do with our wonderful teacher and caring classmates. They make it easy to not only complete our speeches but to talk about sensitive topics that are personal to each and every one of us! Thanks to all my classmates and to Candee!

-Ashley

Brainstorming

I found my first speech to not be so bad. I think that it being a reading helped ease me into the idea of being in front of the class and actually giving a speech. I know I was nervous but with my feedback forms I don’t feel that it was very visible to everyone else. So I guess what the book said about it not showing is true. I really enjoyed having the feedback from my classmates so I know what they liked and what I can improve on for my next speech. I think nervousness will be on the top of my list for improvement! I know I can conquer this and maybe by speech number four I will!

With our informative speeches quickly approaching, I started to get a little anxiety over what my topic was going to be. I was wishing she could just assign something to us and then it would be a little easier. The more I thought about it I realized that wasn’t the case. It would be nearly as interesting if we did it that way. As I read Chapter 14 I was clueless as to any possible topics. I know that it should be something we know about and something that is personal to us but I just wasn’t sure of the right thing. The chapter helped me to come up with some ideas and also some methods to figure out some possible topics that are close to me. I got out a sheet of paper and just started writing whatever came to my head.

After I was finished I realized it really wasn’t all that hard to come up with some ideas that were related to me and my life. I think I was just more concentrated on what I thought the class would want to hear about instead of something that I would want to talk about.  I’m interested in hearing everyone elses speeches! This is turning out to be one of my favorite classes this quarter.

- Ashley H

Getting Used to it

Well, like most students, I put taking this class off until my last quarter. I wouldn’t be taking it if it were not required. I am not a fan of having to talk in front of a group, especially when it comes to having to do it for a grade. I wasn’t sure what this class would be like or what would be expected of me. A few class sessions have gone by now and I almost have no nervousness left already. Most of the classmates have the same fears of public speaking and Candee really helps to make you feel relaxed.  I’m sure that my nervousness will return when it comes time to do my first speech alone. I am really learning a lot and even though I am not looking forward to doing any speeches I know now that I can push through and do this. It will get easier in time and this is something that will benefit me in many areas in my life.

Through exploring the book I have learned several good ways to help me relax and turn my  nervousness into a good thing. Working in groups allows us to get used to giving speeches in front of the room without being up there alone and share insight with others. We have got the opportunity to share what we have thought was important as well as hear what others have thought was important. This not only allows us to learn from others but to have an open mind, accept others opinions and learn to listen! I did not expect to come in to speech class and learn about listening. I feel it shows the importance of respecting other classmates when they are speaking and helps you to learn from them. I am sure I will learn many wonderful things by truly listening.

Although, the reason I am taking this class is because it is a requirement I know it will be a good experience from me and I look forward to learning more.

Ashley