#3 It’s not the size of your audience that matters, it’s its dynamics
![Rakia Ben Sassi](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:88:88/1*e6SCjOoC0wMPTKPjSZ6VZQ.png)
![startup](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:48:48/1*pKOfOAOvx-fWzfITATgGRg.jpeg)
S.scene: It was a gray winter day. I stood in the usual corner of the auditorium, where I could blend in with the background. The coldness from outside crept inside, adding to the discomfort that was etched in me.
Life in the student dormitory was a test of endurance every day. The stark reality of my scarce financial resources and barely covered needs was an unsilent echo. This situation was shattering my confidence.
As my thoughts swirled in a vortex of anxiety and anticipation of psychological safety, a voice cut through the fog of my thoughts. The sound of my name being called echoed throughout the room like thunder.
“Rakia, can you come over here and introduce this part?”
I froze and the words hit me like an ice jolt. Standing in the center of attention and being exposed to 30 pairs of gazes? It was inconceivable.
I clung tight to my safe spot and the nook of hiding seemed more comfortable than ever. “I can not do it,“I murmured in my heart,”I don’tAfter regaining some composure, I cleared my throat and replied:I’m sorry, professor. Could you please excuse me and have someone else do it this time?”
Her gaze was directed at me, a piercing gaze that seemed to dissect my very thoughts. “You have to come here, Rakia. This is part of your responsibility as a future engineer.You need to prepare for such scenarios in your professional life‘ she said firmly. “You can’t let your boss ditch your work.”
Inner turmoil swirled inside me. “good god! Does she not understand my conflict?“I asked myself,”Or are you ashamed of your appearance?”
But when her determined gaze caught me, I realized she might be. Perhaps her point was just a way to push me out of my comfort zone. I swallowed as the reality of her words slowly seeped in and new challenges loomed on the horizon.
T.Thought: Have you ever wondered how a devastating fear of public speaking turns into love…