It was my first day of college.

I considered raising my hand to answer a question, but I was paralyzed by fear. The thought of speaking caused my stomach to knot and my heart to beat against my chest. My body began to shake like a leaf.

I understand the fear of public speaking through two categories:

1. The fear of presenting to a large groups
2. The fear of simply speaking in front of small, medium or large groups

I, like so many others, fall into the second category. The fear became a problem when I started college. For others it was the first day of their dream career in the “real world,” or their first class of high school. Whether you’re entering college or starting a new career, you got there because you worked really hard and earned your place. Despite how awesome, smart and creative we are, we so often let our fear of public speaking dictate our successes.

I worked my butt off to get into a top college, but once I arrived, I became full of self-doubt and fear. I questioned whether I could keep up with my classmates, I was self conscious about my ideas, questions and opinions. This caused a shift in my self confidence and manifested most heavily in my ability to speak publicly.

Others experience these anxieties and fears in work meetings, during conference calls and in other social yet professional settings. I spent two years of college without participating because of my fear of public speaking. This limited my ability to succeed, learn, contribute and grow. During my junior year, I decided to make some changes; I began trying different methods to overcome (or lessen) my fear of public speaking and to build more confidence in myself.

We all should be confident because we are unique and gifted beings. Don’t let fear limit your success and your ability to interact, grow and contribute to your passions. Here are some of the strategies I tried and I hope you will too because you are smart, creative and full of powerful ideas and questions!

1. Preplan: If you’re presenting, ensure that you know your stuff! Be confident that you understand                 and know all the material you’ll be presenting. If you’re like me and want to start with something as simple as being able to ask a question or participate in class discussions, create a question at home for the upcoming lecture. Even if you figure out the answer by the time class rolls around, ask it anyway! This simple step will be an ice breaker. Asking a short, direct question that you’ve practiced              can be a really important breakthrough.

2. Small Steps: Start small and set small goals. For example, “I will ask one question this week” or “I will contribute one idea in the meeting on Friday.” Uphold your goals, accomplish them                         and set bigger goals once you’re comfortable.
3. Breathe & Count 1,2,3: A trick that worked for me was the moment I thought, “I want to contribute,” I would take a deep breath and count to three. 1, 2 , 3. By the time I reached three, I had my hand in the air. I started this after realizing the longer I waited, the more anxious I felt. Fear grows so don’t give your anxieties time to grow.
4. Pose: Strike a pose that makes you feel confident! Try to sit casually and relaxed. I’ve found                   that putting your body into a casual and relaxed pose helps your mind to relax.
5. Reframe Your Inner Dialogue: Stop telling yourself you can’t do something. Never say you’re not smart enough or your opinion is not valid. We all occasionally criticize ourselves and put or selves down. Reframe these thoughts when you have them. Tell yourself you’re brilliant, creative and                confident because you are. Validate your ideas and congratulate yourself on creating them.

The world craves to hear your voice, your opinions and your ideas. Try these strategies or craft your own to overcome fears of public speaking. Your voice is so important!