Public speaking is generally something that many people don't like to do. Most people try to avoid public speaking simply because the fear of speaking in front of an audience is simply terrifying or perhaps even intimidating to some. I'm one of those people who generally doesn't like public speaking. The thought of being in front of people and having to talk about a topic makes me uncomfortable. I'm definitely not the type of person who likes to be the center of attention and have all eyes on me. Over the years I've become more comfortable with public speaking, but it's still something that's not fully within my comfort zone. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Public speaking is not in my comfort zone because growing up, I never had the confidence to speak in front of crowds, whether small or large. Something as simple as speaking in front of my peers in a classroom, or being at a ceremony and having to stand up and say a few words, or even just introducing myself to a group of people who are trying to get to know me as a person makes me very nervous. Having to give a speech was always something I dreaded and wasn't always my strong suit. In high school, whenever I had to speak or volunteer to express my opinion on a topic discussed in class, I never joined in the discussion and told my classmates to skip me. It's not that I didn't have an opinion, but it was because I was too nervous to express my opinion. The delivery of how I would like to say something has never come out the way I would like it too. I began to stumble over my words throughout the speech, sometimes even going off topic. There were times when I would read everything as quickly as possible so that I wouldn't have to stay in front of everyone for too long. In all of my high school English classes, the teachers never forced us to stand and express our opinions on a topic of discussion. I wish they would because I feel I would have become a better public speaker than I am today. I am grateful that my high school had a JROTC course that helped me increase my self-confidence and helped me feel more comfortable and confident speaking in front of an audience. In my JROTC class, we always had to give presentations on everything we learned that week in class. My JROTC teacher noticed how nervous I was getting and gave me some tips on how to improve. That advice is still with me and valuable to me today. The advice I use most today from him is to definitely take my time with what I'm talking about and to speak out loud, clearly and confidently. He also told me to always maintain eye contact with the audience. He said making eye contact with the crowd would make them more engaged and interested in the topic under discussion. Once I decided to join the United States Air Force, my confidence in public speaking evolved tremendously. Watching countless speakers, attending briefings, and having to take leadership classes also helped. Asking questions in class about how they become so good at public speaking and using their techniques also helped me blossom. Now, when I have to give a presentation to my colleagues or a group of people, I'm not as nervous or intimidated about standing in front of them. I try to give a speech worth listening to. I make sure to give the audience a clear understanding of what my speech is about. I always have an outline of what I will say even for the presentation I will give. When