Public Speaking

One of my favourite things to do in the world is to talk in front of people.  I know this makes me strange and part of the rare few in the world that aren’t terrified to death of public speaking.  When I was in University I had no idea what I wanted to do in my life.  I knew I wanted to help people but I had no idea how.  I was a wandering Psychology student that felt like I wasn’t going anywhere.  Then in one of my classes a Speaker from The Support Network came in to talk about Suicide Awareness.  Does that make me sound strange?  I walked up to her and asked her how I could get her job.  She connected me to The Support Network which almost 20 years later is still one of my favorite agencies. I have learned more from that agency and the clients I worked with there than in any of my degrees.  I volunteered at The Support Network and eventually got the job in Public Education running their Suicide Prevention Inservices and Training programs.  It is at The Support Network that I got hooked on Public Speaking.

Since that time I have presented at innumerable workshops, conferences and I am now lucky enough to teach at the University of Calgary and Grant MacEwan as a Sessional Instructor.  All of these experiences have been wonderful but I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am by my next presentation.  I will be presenting at TEDx St. Albert on September 15, 2012.  This is truly a dream come true.   Anyone that knows me or has taken any of my courses will know that I am a huge fan of TED.

Funny… I suddenly realized I am incredibly terrified of public speaking.  Let’s hope it passes.

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