This past Wednesday, April 9, I attended the Literary Contest Awards Ceremony along with friends and classmates.
The day started with not much nervousness until I saw time advancing and the anticipation of the ceremony crept up on me. "Will I be able to speak in front of an audience?" I endlessly thought to myself. It was of some comfort having my long-time friend, Mario, and my childhood friend, Gabriela, by my side. With a source of familiarity, invasive thoughts penetrating my mind cold now take a rest.
The ceremony started a bit later than the announced time, which would only prove torturous to my restless state.
I am not proficient in the art of public speaking. It is foreign to my nature and causes great restlessness that overpowers my body and mind. Restlessness and anxiety become all that I know as my thoughts race over the possibility of failing. "Why must I be this way? Why do others do it so easily." I recall thinking. Unfamiliar faces full of expectations soon became a mass that overwhelmed the amphitheater 4 in DMN. With no form of escape, the time came to speak I from of the audience. Unsure of myself and intimidated by the other winners' entries, I timidly climbed onto the small stage. With check in hand the exchange of congratulatory handshakes existing in moments past, I adjusted the microphone to my stature and proceeded to read what was already prepared.
I never stopped stopped nervous and I could only loosely control the jitters. Painfully did the words make their way out of my mouth and slowly did each each second pass. Attentive were the ones sitting in the first row. No signs of distractions or disinterest were evident in their expressions or gestures. Could they have felt every word, welcomed them into their psyche? Perhaps particles belonging to the mix of the gingerbread cookies had escaped the text and invited itself into our world, pervading our every space.
The talk was successful and the event ended harmoniously. I am very much interested in taking an honors English or Creative Writing course. I love to write. No. I love to be no longer bound byte slings of donut and insecurity. To express much of what is taboo and take on an identity not pertaining to mine is the reward found in materializing emotions that wail cries of agony when suppressed by the repressed mind.
Furthermore, I desire ever so dearly to make known some of my writings. Why not? Why not become active in the literary community and eventually publish my works?
Last Wednesday was definitely a potential turning point in my young life.
I imagine how nervous you were. I would have been the same! Great way in expressing how you felt. Congratulations Claudia for the first place prize!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations girl. I think that if you like to write, you need to work to do it better every day. Don't stop and find all the potential you have in you.
ReplyDeleteGreat reflection Claudia. I'm really happy for you that you could had this opportunity and helped you to overcome some fears. I really liked your short story. Well done, congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteClaudia first of all congratulation for the work you have done. Definitely, there no doubt that you possess a great talent in literature, especially in writing. Excellent job!
ReplyDeleteI would like to congratulate because you really did a great work. I know that is not easy to speak in front of a lot of people and I imagined the nervous that you had. You had a great opportunity and I know that this is just the beginning. Congratulations Claudia you did an excellent job!
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