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The Voice Within

A story of overcoming fear through mentorship and faith — lessons and exercises for students who want to speak up.

English & Math Practice Physics & Chemistry Practice

Public speaking can feel like standing at the edge of a cliff for many students — heart racing, palms wet, voice stuck behind a wall of fear. This story follows one student’s journey from silence to confident voice, and offers step-by-step practices you can start this week.

Read time: ~7 minutes · Tags: confidence, mentorship, public speaking

“Your voice has power when you believe in yourself.”

1. The Story — Tolu’s Silence

Tolu was clever and thoughtful but when it came to speaking, she folded inward. In class she answered questions on paper but shrank when the teacher asked for volunteers. At school assemblies she kept her head down, convinced any attempt to speak would end in embarrassment. The nervousness began years earlier after one awkward presentation where she forgot words and stuttered; classmates laughed and the memory stayed like a thorn.

Her parents noticed but thought she was simply shy. Teachers wrote compliments on her assignments but marked “participate more” as a recurring comment. Tolu wanted to sing in church choir, to read aloud poetry, to present a science project — but fear kept those doors shut.

2. The Turning Point — A Mentor’s Invitation

One term, a school counselor invited Tolu to join a small leadership circle — four students who would practice short talks each week. The group was informal: a chair, a timer, a friend giving feedback. Tolu dreaded the first session and considered making an excuse, but something — perhaps curiosity or the gentle insistence of her tutor — pushed her to attend.

The first exercise was tiny: speak for one minute about a favourite book. Tolu almost froze, but she spoke. Her voice trembled at first, then steadied. The group clapped, and the tutor gave one precise suggestion: “Start with a breath and a single line you remember.”

Beyond the practical tips, two things helped most: regular, non-judgmental practice, and a mentor who treated the skill as something learned rather than a trait one either has or doesn’t. The tutor also encouraged Tolu to bring faith into the process — short, quiet prayers before practice helped her settle the knot in her stomach.

3. Practical Exercises (Start this week)

Exercise A — The 60-Second Habit

Every day for one week, stand (or sit) and speak for 60 seconds on a simple prompt: “A book I love,” “A small thing I’m proud of,” or “A thing I learned today.” Don’t worry about polish — focus on continuity and breath.

• Time: 60 seconds × 7 days
• Goal: build muscle memory for staying with a thought.

Exercise B — Breath & Pace (5 minutes)

Practice the 4-4-4 breathing before you speak: inhale 4 counts — hold 4 — exhale 4. Then read a short paragraph at 70% of your normal speed. This simple breathing routine calms the autonomic response and steadies your voice.

• Time: 5 minutes pre-talk
• Goal: reduce rush and fill sentences with calm air.

Exercise C — The Friend Feedback Loop

With a friend or mentor, record a 2-minute talk. Play it back together and ask for three specific pieces of feedback: one strength, one thing to change, one tiny experiment to try next time. Keep the loop short and actionable.

• Time: 15–20 mins per session, once or twice weekly
• Goal: iterative, manageable improvement

Micro-habits that build confidence

• Read aloud for 5 minutes each morning — poetry or short news pieces.
• Record one short voice note daily (phone voice memo) and listen back once a week.
• Volunteer to read one short line in class or church each week — build stepwise exposure.

4. Faith, Mentorship & Inner Work

For many young people, faith is a powerful resource: a way to reframe fear as something to offer up, a source of courage that is not self-made. In Tolu’s experience, combining spiritual practices (quiet prayer, short affirmations) with structured mentorship formed a resilient support system.

How mentors help

• Normalize failure: mentors reframe mistakes as data, not identity.
• Give small, specific tasks: bite-sized goals reduce overwhelm.
• Hold steady encouragement: the mentor’s calm presence matters more than perfection.

Faith practices that settle nerves

• One-line prayer or affirmation before a talk (e.g., “I speak truth with calm”).
• Short gratitude reflection after each practice — focus on progress rather than perfection.
• Join a faith-based small group where speaking is part of worship or devotion (reading Scripture, testimonies).

5. Lessons & Resources

• Small, regular practice wins: confidence builds from repetition, not a single success.
• Feedback beats praise: actionable feedback accelerates progress more than vague compliments.
• Combine head, heart and habit: technical skills (breath, posture), emotional support (mentor, faith), and daily habits make the change durable.

Tools & resources

• Google AI — use responsibly to generate short speaking prompts, summaries and practice scripts.
• Google — quick definition of public speaking
• English & Math practice — Edwin Ogie Library (use timed writing prompts to prepare talk content)

Key takeaway: Your voice grows when you treat it like a skill. Start with 60 seconds a day, add a breath routine, and find one mentor who believes progress is possible.

6. Reflection Questions & Call to Action

1. What is one short story you could tell in 60 seconds about something meaningful in your life?
2. Who could you ask to be your feedback buddy this month?
3. Which faith or calming practice helps you settle before a stressful moment?

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