You Can Do This: A Reflection on Confidence

Romina Centeno

February 6, 2026

SPC2608-2263-11368

Group 1

   Presenting in classrooms is what I'm used to, doing it via Zoom felt less intimidating, yet it still challenged my confidence in unexpected ways. To start off, I joined this class a week late because I was still switching my schedule. Being a new student or basically the leftover and placed into groups that were already formed felt overwhelming. Especially since I was behind on work and my group members already knew each other. To my luck, Mrs. Sinkoff and my group members were very welcoming making this process easier for me. 

    Once I got settled in, they briefly explained what the presentation was about. I already knew this was a public speaking class but what I didn't expect was that we'd have a presentation by the second week of class. However, I've always been confident in my work as long as I'm prepared. So I was actually excited - as long as it wasn't book work or a test, this kind of assignment felt fun and like a breeze to me.  

(This is how I looked knowing I had a presentation)

    So now we began. We were the first to present since I was in Group 1. I definitely felt pressure right away, but I was also kind of excited about just getting it over with. We were assigned chapters 1–5, and I was in charge of Chapter 2, Units 3 and 4. I didn’t get to choose what I would cover since I joined the class late, but looking back, this actually ended up working out for me. I was worried about being behind everyone else, but my group members really helped me out and made things easier since I could ask them questions. By the end, I felt proud of myself for pushing through instead of letting my nerves take over.

    I had fun making my slides because I got to create them in my own Romina style. I was able to express myself through the images I chose. The pictures I chose of people public speaking reflected my point of view on confidence, anxiety, and public speaking in general. I was mainly excited to design the front cover since it was the most important as it opened the presentation for us. I felt more prepared for the day of presenting by organizing my slides the way I liked. It felt like people would focus more on the presentation instead of me. This project felt more meaningful and not like another assignment I had to turn in since I got to add my personal touches.

   I couldn’t rely on reading from my screen since it had very few words, I needed to know the material. This helped me by making me feel more confident in my speech since it forced me to understand what I was talking about. In the moment, though, I felt both nervousness and anxiety. To prepare for that, I made sure to keep notes on the side in case I started blanking out while presenting. Ironically, it aligned perfectly with my presentation topic, “Building Your Confidence on the Day Before and Day Of Your Speech,” because I was using the strategies I described myself. I was less worried about making mistakes since my notes were there to look back on and help me feel more secure.

(This is how I looked rehearsing my presentation)

   On the day of presenting, I was the third person to speak. It felt more nerve-racking because all the attention was directly on me since only the presenter had their camera on. Since beforehand, I made sure to fully understand what I was talking about and made sure I looked presentable I didn't look lost. I was able to watch my two group members before me so going with the flow felt easier and I felt more comfortable.

    Once it was my turn, I switched my camera on, introduced myself, and began my presentation. I spoke, I focused on making eye contact instead of looking around my room. I focused on what I had to say and instead of my classmates paying attention to me. Anytime I felt my nerves coming in, I reminded myself of my notes and that I was prepared. By the end of it, I gradually felt more comfortable speaking. It felt more natural then I expected and finishing my presentation felt like a relief. It was also a moment of pride because I forgot about my anxiety and still presented my work successfully.

   Overall, I think I did really well and felt proud of my group as well. We did amazing despite the pressure we had of going first. When the other groups presented, I noticed different speaking styles. Some people sounded and looked more confident and others were more hesitant and nervous. Some talked more casual while other sounded more formal. The ways of slide organization was also different. Some groups had more text, while others mostly used pictures. The levels of preparation was also drastic. Some groups seemed like they even had prior knowledge on their speeches, while others looked like they were reading off a screen. Seeing this made me realize that our presentation stood strong compared to others. It also helped me understand that everyone approaches public speaking differently, and that there is many ways to present. Some I could take tips from and others I would never use. Looking back, I feel proud of my own performance, but also of what I observed and learned from others.

   As I am writing this, I look back on this new experience and what it really helped me in besides just completing another school assignment.  I grew up quickly as a little girl, therefore, I’ve grew to be the type of person who deeply values self-growth, confidence, and resilience. By the end of this presentation, it felt personal to me because I felt like I was becoming a better version of myself. I used to be very insecure but I taught myself through my life struggles how to gain confidence, especially through the bad since it was something I never had. 

    Looking back, this experience also helped me since I am majoring in Business Administration. Public speaking and building and unbreakable confidence is important for my career path in order to network and be placed in new rooms and new opportunities. Even though I was nervous, I still showed up, spoke up, and pushed through. That made me feel proud of myself not just as a student, but as a person who is learning, striving to be better, and becoming more confident over time for my personal interests and career.

(This is how I felt after my presentation)

Always remember: You can do it and anything you set your mind on. The world is yours and your only limit is you.