Carlymar Aguero

February 6, 2026

SPC2608-2263-11368

Group 1

Confidence is Key! 

Welcome! In this vlog you will find: Group 1 Resolution + confident strategies that helped me make a great presenation + comment on group presentations + ! 💫

At the beginning of this assignment, I honestly felt nervous about being in the first group to present. Knowing that we were going first made the pressure feel heavier because there was no example to follow from other groups. I also felt like the class would pay extra attention to us since we were presenting first, which made me even more anxious. Public speaking is something that I have always found challenging, especially when I feel like everyone is focused on me and listening closely. I worried that I would get nervous, speak too fast, or forget what I wanted to say.

However, as our group started planning, I began to realize that we could do well if we stayed organized and communicated effectively. One of the best things we did was dividing the work early so each person clearly understood what their role was. That helped reduce confusion and allowed each person to focus on their own responsibilities. I also appreciated that everyone was willing to participate, because group work can become difficult when not everyone contributes. Even though it felt stressful at first, our group showed teamwork and effort, which helped make the whole process smoother.

During the preparation process, we also experienced changes that made the project a little more complicated. New students joined the class, which affected group dynamics, and one member dropped out. Even though changes like that could have easily caused more stress, we adjusted and stayed focused. It reminded me that group work requires flexibility, because not everything goes exactly as planned. We reorganized our tasks and made sure everyone still had enough time to complete their slides and practice their sections.

One thing that helped us as Group 1 was that we took our responsibilities seriously. Since we were the first group, we wanted to set a good tone and show that we were prepared. Our chapter topic connected strongly to speech anxiety and confidence, which felt very relevant because we were also experiencing those feelings in real life. That made the project feel more personal to me, since I was learning about public speaking while also actively practicing it.

Confidence Strategies That Helped Me Present Better

Instead of using music or distractions to cope with stress, I focused on strategies that directly helped build my confidence and reduce my speech anxiety. I noticed that the more prepared I felt, the calmer I became. Some of the strategies that helped me the most were:

• Practicing my part out loud multiple times to feel comfortable hearing my own voice

• Recording myself on my phone and listening back to check my pace and clarity

• Using cue words and bullet points instead of memorizing everything word-for-word

• Deep breathing before presenting to calm down my body and steady my voice

• Positive self-talk, reminding myself that being nervous is normal and does not mean I will fail

• Practicing with a friend/classmate to get used to speaking to someone

• Maintaining eye contact a few seconds at a time so I stayed connected to the audience

• Speaking slower on purpose so I wouldn’t rush and lose my place

• Standing with good posture to appear confident even if I was nervous inside

• Focusing on understanding the topic, because confidence grows when you truly know what you are saying

Also something that really helped me get into shape for this presentation was the following Ted Talk by Montana Von Fliss: 

These strategies helped me feel more confident and controlled. I realized that confidence is not just a personality trait, it can actually be trained. Once I practiced and prepared, the fear started to shrink, and I felt more capable of speaking in front of people.

As we presented, I noticed that pacing matters a lot during group presentations. Sometimes, people get nervous and begin speaking too quickly, or they accidentally spend too much time explaining one part. I tried to keep my own section organized and clear without making it too long. When I felt nervous, I reminded myself to slow down and focus on being understood. I also learned that you do not have to be perfect in order to present well. Even if a person feels nervous, they can still deliver information in a confident way if they stay prepared.

I also realized how important transitions are. When the presentation is divided among multiple people, it can sometimes feel disconnected if transitions are not smooth. Our group worked hard to make sure our slides connected and flowed well. I believe that teamwork and planning played a big role in helping us succeed.

Group Reflections

I also feel like the other groups deserve recognition for the work they put into their presentations. They each explained their chapters well and shared useful tips that helped show different ways people can improve their speaking and presentation skills.

Group 2:

While Group 2 may have experienced a small difficulty at the beginning involving the setup of their project, they still presented a fine and informative presentation. Their work focused on the importance of brainstorming and communicating ideas clearly. They also showed that preparation matters because even when something unexpected happens, you can still continue and present confidently. Their project also provided helpful reminders about how you should present yourself to an audience in a professional and organized way.

Group 3:

Group 3 gave a strong demonstration of how powerful communication can be when someone is creating an effective speech. They emphasized how language impacts the audience and how strong word choice can capture attention and keep listeners engaged. They helped highlight that public speaking is not only about delivering information, but also about how you connect with the listeners through tone and expression. Their presentation made it clear that being an effective speaker requires awareness of how the audience is reacting, while also encouraging the audience to listen with full attention.

Group 4:

Group 4 provided a great insight into the different types of presentations people may give, and why each type has a different purpose. Their explanation of informative and persuasive speeches was especially helpful because it showed how speeches can be structured depending on what the speaker wants to achieve. Their work demonstrated that effective speaking depends on planning and understanding your goal. Their presentation also helped show how different speech styles can be used depending on what message you want to communicate.

So, What's my conclusion? well...

Even though being the first group came with a lot of pressure, we stayed determined and worked through it together. Our presentation turned out to be informative and well-prepared, especially on the topic of speech anxiety and the strategies that help someone become a stronger speaker and listener. This project reminded me that confidence doesn’t just appear, it grows over time through preparation, practicing, and believing in yourself.

I also feel proud because this experience pushed me outside of my comfort zone. In the beginning, I thought I would struggle a lot, but in the end, I realized I was more capable than I expected. This project did not only teach me about public speaking skills, but it also helped me practice those skills in real time. Presenting in front of the class helped me understand that anxiety is common, but it does not have to control you.

Another important lesson I learned is that confidence builds little by little. Each time someone practices and prepares, the fear becomes smaller. Even though I still get nervous, I now understand how to manage it in a healthier way. I also learned that a supportive group makes the process easier, because working with people who are serious and responsible reduces stress.

In the end, I found this project more enjoyable than I expected, and thanks to this I'll always remember: confidency is key!