Speaking in front of a large crowd can be intimidating, which is why a local school decided to add a new program.

 

“I did not at all want to take it and I had to,” says senior student Saige Runyan.  Runyan is just one of dozens of students who originally felt nervous at the thought of 24 of her peers staring at her, critiquing her for several minutes.

 

“I’ll talk to my friends, but whenever I get in front of audiences, I freeze up,” says sophomore Amya Robinson.   Most of the Greater Johnstown High School students in this special class will tell you they don’t feel that way anymore.

 

“Students were shaking hands with people that they maybe didn’t speak with outside of class or even within class before, making eye contact and smiling, feeling vulnerable, but encouraging and supporting each other,” says Tracey King, the instructor for the class.

 

They were the first participants of a new program at the school, the Toastmasters International Youth Leadership Class.  The course focuses on public speaking, leadership, and encouragement by getting out of your seat and in front of a crowd.

 

The students say getting up in front of everyone is the hardest part .  Once they’re in front of the room, they are not allowed to use notes, and must maintain eye contact the entire time.

 

The 50 students that are involved work to create and present their own stories. They go through a specific formula and do techniques before presenting their speech.  It is a free program for schools, and it helps students succeed beyond the classroom.

 

“The central idea is not public speaking,” says Larry Olek, the program coordinator.  “It is developing a higher level of confidence in yourself.”