“So, bottom line, for Americans to lose weight, they have to EAT…” were some of the last confident words that slipped out of my mouth as I firmly clinched victory for the better improvisation. I found myself smiling as the judges laughed and applauded my comical yet thoughtful speech. But I haven't always been a good speaker. In fact, just a year earlier you would have found a nervous, bullet-sweating version of me standing in front of another set of judges. Speaking in front of others was definitely not my strong point, but neither was my ability to take risks. I soon discovered how important this skill is and how to use it correctly. Like many students, I was deathly afraid of any form of public speaking. Unlike many students, I kept to myself most of the time. As a result, the normal signs of this fear were all present and well amplified: tremors, profuse sweating and stuttering. It got so bad that no matter how much practice I had before, the words always alluded me when it came time to speak in front of my peers. There had to be a way out of this terrible introversion. That's when I decided to take one of the biggest risks of my life: joining the speech and debate team. If diving headfirst into my fear didn't heal me, then what else will? The meeting with the debate coach turned out to be different than initially expected. Mrs. Janewski was a very modest person, but at the same time cheerful and confident. The strangest thing was that these values ​​were somehow magically transferred to his audience as he spoke. Somehow I knew she was the key to all my problems. At the first meeting he sat us all down and told us his secret. “I know it may seem like speaking in front of people is an exclusive skill, but in reality it is something easily acquired...... middle of paper ......laughable. “...they have to EAT. And – exercise every day for a healthier lifestyle. A – accept that sometimes it's okay to be an elephant. ET: Teach our future children the value of a salad,” I proclaimed with a look of confidence on my face. Later, at the awards ceremony, it was no surprise that I received the trophy for Best Impromptu Speech I had finally overcome the fear of speaking in front of others. As long as I took the risk of making people laugh, I knew that everything would be fine risks could lead to disastrous consequences, it could also lead to glorious results. This is the lesson I learned and continue to use today. Mrs. Janewski and my friends Greg and Elliot, I will never forget how I learned to run gods risks.