Oh, this takes me back. I can’t help but smile.
I never quite made it to the stage level, but I did give a speech once-at a public speaking competition-and I won. I even got a certificate for it. The funny part? I hadn’t signed up myself. My former English teacher believed I could do public speaking, and he was right.
That day was one of those moments where I did it afraid. My voice shook for the first few minutes, my nerves were all over the place, and I even asked my friends to leave the room so I could focus. But once I got through it, the fear melted away. I felt so good afterwards that I was ready to do it again another time. Sadly, I never really got around to it.
I don’t remember the exact topic-it’s been a long time-but I’ll never forget the feeling. Standing there, speaking, and realizing that courage doesn’t mean the absence of fear. It means showing up anyway.
Since then, I’ve watched countless people perform-poets, singers, actors-and I’ve always admired them. Not just for their creativity in composing something beautiful, but for their bravery in sharing it with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people.
Maybe the prompt only wanted a simple “yes” or “no.” But for me, it stirred something deeper. Perhaps it’s time to get back into public speaking. I wonder what I’d talk about now. Until then, I’ll keep attending, admiring, and letting that spark remind me that I’ve done it before-and I can do it again.
NdukuOutLoud 
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