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should i quit or not?
okay so this year i started taking a speech class, the thing is..i used to have such A GREAT CONFIDENCE when it came to giving speeches, everyone always says im awesome im always proud of myself after a speech, i know i was funnier and more interesting than everyone else.. (like not to sound conceited or anything, but giving speeches is pretty much what i do!) but i gave my first speech, and my messed up teacher gave me a C and EVERYONE else an A. And it completely screwed me up, after that, when i had to give a speech in english or some other class.. i'd get so nervous and completely screw up and get a bad grade. And now im like afraid of talking! and ive been skipping school soooo much because i fear giving speeches.. so i just told my mom about this, and she said.. its up to you, you can drop out of the class if you want to..
here's the thing though, a part of me is saying.. i should keep going, i mean i already wasted half a year on it, and there's only 12 more hours of it until its over, and i might even end up with a B. You know? it feels kinda pointless to quit..
but then again, you guys dont understand how much i cry over this, its got me all anxious and nervous and everytime i think "Im gonna go tomorrow, and give the best speech ever and prove everyone wrong!" i checken out, last minute.. i start crying.. and run home. I dont know hwy im so affected by this.
im not sure because this can go one out of two ways.. like if i quit, ill be stuck with this feeling of failure, and ive already developed a fear of giving speeches (something i used to be great at!) so maybe it will stick with me forever if i dont go and make it better, get my grade up!
OR it could do what it has already done, mess up my confidence..even more, I TRULY FEAR walking in to that classroom! i cringe at the though of it!
what do you think i should do?? please help, i know its silly but you dont understand how much this has affected me and how much of a big deal this is.. its really hard on me for some reason. its sooo hard for me. help.
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You have allowed one failure to outweigh years of success. It's unfortunate the way in which this seems to have shattered your confidence.
It seems to me that a talk with your instructor is long overdue. You need to meet with him (her) and determine exactly WHY you got a lower grade than everyone else in the class. It seems rather strange that the WHOLE CLASS except for you would receive an "A", especially since you claim to have been very good at public speaking in the past. What, exactly, were you being graded on?
Once you determine that, you can plan how to overcome it. Until then, you probably won't be able to regain your confidence.
Most teachers are more than willing to help a student who shows genuine drive to improve. Ask if you can give him a fifteen-minute speech outside of class, after which he will give you a brief critique.
It sounds to me like your previous confidence may have been based on shaky ground. Give it a firmer foundation, and it won't be so easily swept aside. Perhaps you've had a raw talent for public speaking that never really had to be refined until now. Take the time and practice to refine it, and you'll get your confidence back; and it will be well-earned.
Don't drop the class. You will likely regret it later.
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I used to be like you. I would get nervous in front of the class. What I did was I started practicing in front of my friends and family. I also took a BUNCH of classes where you HAVE to stand up in front of the class to boost my confidence. Of course, I live in a small town where most of my teachers are pretty mellow. So here is my advice, like I said, try practicing in front of friends or family. What about the mirror? If you practice your speech enough, your confidence should come back. I wouldn't worry about the C. Now, if you do a really good job, and STILL get a bad grade, ask your mom to talk to the school. "Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." You never know until you take the risk.
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