Help Me Speak Out

My 6th grade teacher helped me a bunch when it came to speaking. My social anxiety was really bad; I used to never say a word. She helped me feel confident and comfortable when it came to speaking in public and gave me enough time to do so. She was also very patient with me, which is something I will forever be grateful for. - Omar

Most adults do not feel comfortable speaking in front of a crowd. It brings up all sorts of fears and anxiety. It should be one of the things that is easily handled in grade school with practice and patience.  

We know it is not always the case. It is a hard fear to get over, especially if you don’t have a teacher that makes the class feel “confident and comfortable.” It takes a safe place for that kind of transformation to happen.  

Our classrooms need to be safe places so that students can take risks, fail and then try again and succeed. We need them to feel comfortable enough to speak in front of others, to find their voice and be heard.  

Each one of us has so much to offer the world, but if we are afraid to share it then the whole world loses. It is not a small thing to be passed off just as someone’s nature.  

We need to hear each voice. We need to hear each other. That starts in our classrooms.  

It starts today.