Speech Draft

Hi everyone. Have you ever found yourself wishing you could disappear - blending into the background - during that critical moment. You’ve found yourself thinking, “Please don’t let the teacher ask me, let it be someone else - I don’t think I can do it?” If so, you lack self-confidence. But do you know what self confidence is?

We will be discussing five key factors of self confidence.

First, not being afraid to start helps with self confidence because after you start what you are doing just gets easier and easier. Then after awhile you will feel more confident doing this new thing and all you had to do was start.

Second, to believe in your abilities. Believing in your abilities to do something is a key factor in gaining self confidence because if you don not believe in yourself to do something even if you could do it you will not be able to. For example when you wake up in the morning and you do not want to get out of bed, even though you physically could get out of bed in your had to but you end up telling yourself that you're tired to do so.

Third, is to practice what you want to do or accomplish. Practicing a skill will help you feel more confident doing it next time you do it. For example you are about to write a math test and you studied lots the day before you are naturally feeling confident about taking the test because you practiced. But on the other hand if you forgot to study for the test and you're about to write it you might be scared or nervous because you did not practice.

Fourth, having a supportive environment. Having a supportive environment when trying to build confidence can really help because if you do fail you have others to help you up and motivate you to try again. For example if you are trying to get a new job and you have parents supporting you even if you do not get the job you will still have someone looking out for you.

Lastly, perspective. Having perspective can help by looking at the situation or your goal in a different way to make it more manageable to compete. For example say you want to climb a mountain at first you might say “how am i ever going to get to the top”. Instead you could say “every step you take you get one closer to the top”.

By not being afraid to start, believing in your abilities, practicing, finding a supportive environment and having prospective you can stop saying “I don’t think I can” and start saying “I know I can”.