Everyone Remembers Their First

I remember mine.

My first speech was in my 8th grade social studies class.

The class was a combination of civics and world history. We were often assigned to film and edit videos, make posters, and other creative means to display what we were taught during lectures.

For one project, we were tasked to deliver a speech to the class.

I don’t 100% remember what the prompt was or how I responded but I wrote my speech and it was riddled with words like “superfluous,” “clairvoyant,” and “perfidious."

I had taken 12 weeks of SAT Vocabulary that summer prior.

I got up to the podium and delivered it. Every time I dropped a (at the time) challenging vocab word, my social studies teacher, Mr. DiDonna would repeat it with such gusto and nod his head dramatically, like the way a preacher gives a sermon and folks in the congregation say “Amen!” and nod their heads deeply.

I’d stop mid sentence to look at him and without making eye contact, he’d wave his hands for me to carry on, still nodding with approval as he paced in an L shape behind the class and along the windows.

Sometimes, Mr. DiDonna would repeat a word I just said and he’d define it for the class. Then, wave his hands as a signal to continue. Again.

When I finished, he was vocal about how impressed he was. Before this speech, Mr. DiDonna never really spoke to me.

At the end of 8th grade, I was given Social Studies Student of the Year.

I knew I was not the smartest 8th grader in his classes but what this praise, acknowledgement, and award did was give me a greenlight to keep giving speeches, keep presenting, keep preparing for them and delivering them with zest.

After that, I doubled down on speechwriting and presenting all 4 years of high school. Then I got to college and I competed in public speaking contests and won.

After graduating, I made sure my first job and each one after included the responsibility to present well.

I still make sure of this.