Using Speech to Become Better

Ester Kamati
Jemimah

"According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy." These are the words of comedian Jerry Seinfeld which is not far from true for most people. For the past few years Delta has tried to help students overcome this fear and rather use it as a skill that would mold young people into confident and tranquil beings through the Debate Club as well as speech competitions in both German and English.

Coupled with the ineluctable angst felt when speaking in front of a crowd, public speaking helps one know oneself. If you want to learn to inspire others, you first have to connect with your authentic self which is pivotal in becoming the superlative beings we aspire to be. When participating in public speaking and debate competitions, one has to be informed and well read on the motions; which are usually related to societal status quo. This pushes pupils to be open-minded and grants them with a change in perspective when furthering research in order to compile a proper speech. In an interview with The Deltarian, debater and speech competition participant -Vision Tobias- cited that public speaking not only teaches you how important discourse is but also how to appreciate engagement and be more confident in the way you interact with individuals and crowds. The liberation and empowerment felt when delivering a speech without it being vitiated or influenced by others reminds us that our voices are worth being heard and our words listened to. Moreover, public speaking is not just a fear to overcome but a skill that alleviates.