Facing Fears and Finding Confidence: How Courage Shaped Me

WHAT IT IS?

When I was younger, one of the things that scared me the most was giving presentations at school. The moment a teacher announced, “Next week, we’ll be presenting in front of the class,” I would feel my heart drop…especially in English class. The idea of standing in front of a large group, with all eyes on me, made me incredibly nervous. I was scared of raising my voice, of making mistakes, of stuttering, and of embarrassing myself. I would always try to avoid going first and hoped the teacher wouldn’t call on me. But at some point, something inside me shifted. I realized that I didn’t want to live with that fear anymore. I didn’t want to be the person who avoided speaking just because it was uncomfortable. I wanted to feel confident, at ease, and “free” when presenting. So I made a decision: every time there was a presentation, I would raise my hand to go first. No more hiding, no more waiting for my turn to be forced on me. I would face my fear head-on. I’m not gonna lie: the first few times were tough. My hands shook, my voice trembled, and my heart raced through the roof. But little by little, things began to change. Each time I stood in front of the class, I felt slightly more comfortable than the last. I started to realize that it wasn’t the end of the world if I stuttered or forgot a word. Everyone gets nervous sometimes, and many of my classmates stumbled over their words too. That realization took away a lot of pressure I had been putting on myself. I also developed small strategies to help me through those moments. If I felt myself starting to panic, I would take a deep breath and continue. If I made a mistake, I simply corrected myself and moved on. The more I practiced, the more natural it became. And the more I proved to myself that I could handle it, the more my self-confidence grew.

Today, I no longer fear public speaking. I’ve voluntarily moderated concerts with an audience of over 500 people and held presentations in front of of 350 students (just to name a few examples), something that would have seemed impossible to my younger self. I don’t speak perfectly every time, I still make small mistakes here and there. But that’s okay. I realized, self-confidence doesn’t come from being flawless, but from trusting yourself and being brave enough to try. As my confidence grew, I also became more comfortable taking the lead in group settings. I started to enjoy guiding discussions, coordinating tasks, and motivating others. Standing in front of people was no longer intimidating; instead, it became an opportunity to connect and inspire.This ability to lead has been one of the most rewarding outcomes of stepping out of my comfort zone, and I know it will be incredibly valuable in the future, especially in hospitality, where strong leadership and teamwork are essential for effective management. 

I’m confident that these skills will support me as I move into the hospitality industry. Hospitality relies on clear communication, adaptability, and the ability to make guests and colleagues feel understood and supported. Whether it’s welcoming guests, managing a team, or handling unexpected challenges; the courage and self-assurance I’ve developed will help me thrive in this dynamic environment. Sometimes you really do have to “fake it till you make it”, and eventually you realize you’re no longer faking.

I enjoyed this reflective task because it felt refreshing and different from the usual blog posts we had to write. Taking the time to look back on my personal growth allowed me to see how far I’ve come and how these experiences have shaped me. It was a nice change to write something more personal and combine it with my future in hospitality.