Grant Me an Audience!

National Blog Posting Month – March 2013 – Risk

Prompt – Do you like getting up to speak in front of a crowd?  Will you submit this year for VOTY?

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Oooh. VOTY. *Googling* “Voices of the Year.” Hmm. Intrigued. I’ll think about it.

To answer the first question, the answer is a resounding YES! I have the ham gene. I love getting up in front of people and talking. I love teaching. I love having an audience!

That isn’t to say that I don’t panic a bit when it’s time for things to start. I do still have social anxiety. Yes. It’s true. I really do. I was the kid who would fall over in front of the class if they had to read an essay that they’d written. I was the one who’d nearly throw up. I was the one who’d blank out and forget what they were saying.

Yup. That’s me.

And I still die a little inside when I walk into a full class room. I still gasp when it’s time to give a professional talk. The difference is that now I know that I won’t die. I also know that I can occasionally deliver some good one-liners that keeps the audience on my team. I have fun presenting at scientific conferences now. I love teaching (who cares how big the class is!). Put me on a panel, I’m just fine. It doesn’t have to be science. I’ve spoken about writing and social media. I don’t really care.

I have the ham gene. I love to have an audience. (Even if I panic for a moment at the beginning!)

So, what about Voices of the Year? Has it been announced for 2013 yet? I don’t see it, so I guess not. That means there’s time!

Sure, I’ll consider submitting for VOTY. I think I have a contribution to make, most likely in the category of “Identity,” but maybe also in “Parenting” (raising an autistic child does that to you).

There’s time yet (apparently). We’ll see.