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.