If I could master one skill instantly, there are so many I would have loved to choose. But at this point in my life, the one skill I would genuinely love to have right now is public speaking.
I’ve always struggled with speaking in front of people. It’s not like I don’t know what to say—I do. But the problem is how to say it in a way that makes sense, flows smoothly, and shows confidence. I can’t count how many times I’ve had to talk in front of a crowd, only to feel my heart racing, my hands shaking, and my words stumbling over themselves. It’s frustrating because, deep down, I know I can do better. I just don’t know how to shake off the nervousness and speak with ease.
One particular experience that still lingers in my mind is my I.T program defense. That day, I had to stand in front of my teachers, juniors, and classmates to explain the work I had done during my internship. Before stepping forward, I kept telling myself, You’ve got this. Just say what you know. But the moment I stood in front of them, it was as if my brain and my mouth were disconnected. I was fidgeting so much that even I could feel it. My voice wasn’t steady, my words weren’t coming out clearly, and worst of all, I could see the unimpressed expressions on my teachers’ faces. I knew they were questioning whether I actually did the work I was presenting, not because I didn’t, but because my delivery didn’t sound convincing enough.
This same issue follows me into the classroom. Whenever I have a presentation, I start getting anxious from the moment I know I have to talk. My mind starts running in circles, imagining every possible thing that could go wrong. What if I forget my points? What if I start stammering? What if I embarrass myself in front of everyone? It’s a battle I fight every single time, and honestly, it’s exhausting.
The scary part is that I can’t run away from it. Public speaking is something I’ll have to face even more in the coming years. In my fifth year, which is my final year, I’ll have to give multiple seminar presentations on animal science. Just thinking about it makes me uneasy because I know how important those presentations will be. If I still struggle with public speaking by then, it could affect how well I perform. And let’s not even talk about my final year project defense—a moment where I’ll need to stand in front of a panel of lecturers and confidently defend my work. There’s no hiding from that one. If I don’t do it well, I won’t graduate. That’s the reality.
This is why I would love to master public speaking. Just imagining myself standing in front of a crowd, speaking fluently, engaging my audience, and not feeling nervous gives me a sense of relief. I want to have that confidence and presence—the kind that makes people stop and listen when I talk. I want to be able to stand in front of any number of people and deliver my points without shaking, without second-guessing myself, and without feeling like I need to run off the stage.
If I could master this skill instantly, I know it would make a huge difference in my life. It wouldn’t just help with my academic presentations but also in everyday situations—whether it’s talking to people, networking, or even writing better because good communication starts with clear thinking.
Public speaking is one skill I know I need, not just for now but for the future. And if I could master it today, I know I would be a much more confident and fearless version of myself.