How I Overcame My Fear of Public Speaking?

I still remember the day public speaking became my biggest fear.

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‎It was during 10th grade. Our English teacher walked in and, without warning, asked each student to speak for two minutes on a random topic. When it was my turn, she handed me a topic—“The Importance of Reading.” I stood up, but my knees felt weak. My heart raced, palms sweaty. I opened my mouth... and nothing came out. I tried to form a sentence, but my mind went blank. I stammered a few words, then gave up and said, “Sorry, I can’t.” I sat down, defeated.

‎Some classmates giggled. Others looked away awkwardly. But that moment stayed with me—etched in my memory like a scar. I decided then that I would never speak in front of a crowd again.

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‎And I didn’t. Not for years.

‎In group presentations, I let others do the talking. During debates or discussions, I stayed quiet. I avoided eye contact with teachers during class participation. I even skipped events just to avoid speaking. I labeled myself “shy” and believed I wasn’t made for public speaking.

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‎But deep down, I hated that I was afraid. I hated that fear had control over me.

‎Everything started to change when I read a simple quote on Instagram:

‎“Your comfort zone will destroy you.”

‎That quote hit me hard.

‎I realized I had let fear become my comfort zone. And if I didn’t break out of it now, I never would.

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‎So, I decided to face my fear—one tiny step at a time.

‎The first step was talking to myself in front of a mirror. Sounds strange, but it worked. Every night, I stood in front of the mirror and spoke about random topics. How my day went. What I felt. I noticed my voice, my expressions, and the way I hesitated. Slowly, I became more aware of myself.

‎Then I began recording voice notes on my phone. I’d listen to them the next day. Yes, I cringed at first. But I noticed improvement. My “ums” and “uhs” decreased. I sounded clearer.

‎I sounded more... confident.

‎Next, I joined a WhatsApp group of beginner public speakers. We were all afraid, which made it easier to practice together. Every week, we chose a topic and sent voice notes. It was a safe space. No judgment. Just encouragement.

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‎Then came the real challenge: an open mic event at my college.

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‎I saw the poster and felt that old fear rise in my chest. But this time, I didn’t let it win. I signed up.

‎On the day of the event, I was terrified. Standing backstage, I considered backing out. But I kept reminding myself: “You’ve come this far. Don’t stop now.”

‎When I stepped onto the stage, the lights felt too bright. The mic felt heavy in my hand. I took a deep breath, looked into the crowd, and began.

‎The first few sentences were shaky. My voice trembled. But then, something magical happened. I started to connect with the audience. I shared a personal story from my childhood—something funny and honest. People laughed. They nodded. And by the end, they clapped.

‎That applause wasn’t just for my story—it was for me. For the boy who once couldn’t speak two sentences in class... now owning the stage.

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‎I won’t pretend public speaking became easy after that. It didn’t. I still get nervous. My hands still sweat. But now, I don’t run from fear—I walk with it.

‎I learned something powerful:

‎Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s the decision to speak even while afraid.

‎Every time I speak now, I remind myself: It’s okay to be nervous. Just don’t let it stop you. Speak from the heart. Be real. People will listen.

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‎So, if you’re reading this and you fear public speaking too, know this—you are not alone. Start small. Talk to yourself. Record your voice. Speak in front of a friend. Take the tiniest step.

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‎Because once you do, you’ll realize:

‎Your voice is stronger than your fear.

Yo

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