Valedictorian speech...

[sg88]

I was just named valedictorian of my class and, of course, will have to give a speech to over 2000 people. Needless to say, I have a fairly recognizable stutter, and I am very self-conscious about it. I am already extremely nervous about giving it. I was just wondering if anybody here has had to give a speech to a very large group of people and how they handled the situation.

Thank you very much.

[Vermillion]

You have guts.

Many people (not even fluent people) will take that job of giving a speech in front of 2000 people. I know I wouldn't.

[sg88]

Yeah, but I HAVE to give it. That's what sucks.

[dave]

You should have thought about that before you decided to become valevictorian. :p Congratulations on your acheivement.

Do not worry about your stutter. People care about what you say not how you say it. I would be worried about writing a speech rather than giving it.

I have given a few presentations at school. The speeches had to be three minutes minimum. And I was the only person who got the extra credit for going over the limit. -lol

No speeches infront of 2000 people though.

[sg88]

Thanks, Dave, I should be worrying about what I am going to write, not how I say it. I appreciate that advice.

[PatientPrsvrnce]

This is an incredible achievement. Don't let your stutter ever stop you from reaching these types of goals. I think you are a good example and inspiration to all of us on this board and you represent more than just your class, but stutters in general. Congratulations again on your excellent achievement and may you have many more like it in your lifetime. All the best in writing your speech, I don't think you will have a problem with this either. Thanks for sharing your story....good luck!!! :)

[Standingtall]

That is an excellent success story for all of us, that stutter or not. The most people I ever had was close to 500 people, with that many faces and bright lights focused on the stage, the crowd becomes a blurr. I'm am sure you will do fine and do let us know how it goes. Peace and best of luck on your speech.

[Standingtall]

Hey happy buddy, it is close to five hundred people, not five thousands. I wouldn't make it up the stage, I'll be so scared. Giving a speech to 2 thousand people, the faces will become a blurr compared to an couple hundred. Some people find that easier to deal with. If you got lights on you, then you won't see faces further into the crowd, just human forms.

[happy7117]

I was just named valedictorian of my class and, of course, will have to give a speech to over 2000 people. Needless to say, I have a fairly recognizable stutter, and I am very self-conscious about it. I am already extremely nervous about giving it. I was just wondering if anybody here has had to give a speech to a very large group of people and how they handled the situation.

Thank you very much.My advice:: practice reading outloud
at a toastmasters meeting or like
an open mike type of setting..the more you
practice in front of small-to medium size audiences,
the less nervous and more ready you will be...

Holy smokes- 2000 people-- fluent
or nonfluent people- that is quite a
big undertaking...wheather a stutter
or no stutter one might be scared as hell!!

But Validictorian---that's a tremendous
honor indeed!! How does ANYONE every
do that in high school is beyond me!!

If you can tackle this- you can tackle anything that comes your way in life!!

[happy7117]

Hey happy buddy, it is close to five hundred people, not five thousands. I wouldn't make it up the stage, I'll be so scared. Giving a speech to 2 thousand people, the faces will become a blurr compared to an couple hundred. Some people find that easier to deal with. If you got lights on you, then you won't see faces further into the crowd, just human forms.

I must of been thinking of your post (of a
500 people speech)and the original
posters speech(2000 people speech)..and mistakenly
get em mixed up!! If you add 500 and 2000 you get 2500 people...
at that number I would probably
faint, 5000 people :) I would not do it!!!

[kilumanati]

i had to give a speech in front of about 500 people when i was "graduating" from rehab, my advice would be is to practice it pick words that are normally easy to say, write the speech and concentrate on every word chosen, and i found it easier when i focused on 1 or 2 people (while doing the speech) who were my friends and knew about my stutter, and i stated that i stuttered at the very start which helped ease some tension

[sg88]

Thanks guys for all your support. I appreciate it.

[studentdoc]

Congratulations sg88!!! I recommend taking a Valium or Xanax or somethin to calm you down beforehand. Prepare prepare prepare. Read your speech over and over beforehand and then practice it in front of a video camera and watch it and keep doing it. I think repetition and preparation reduce anxiety on "what will be said and how it will be said" and will help you out. Again, congrats. You've gotten so far!

Discler: this is in no way medical advice; check with a physician to look for contraindications and to ensure you are a good candidate for any drugs;

[sg88]

Thanks, studentdoc. However, are you suggesting that I take a pain killer just for the high I will receive from it? That, to me, would not be a wise decision. :confused:

[White Sox]

Like everyone else has said, focus on writing the speech as good as you possibly can. This will help you relax knowing you wrote a solid speech. Then practice reading it out loud infront of your family or close friends 10000 times. Read it so many times that you memorize it all. After you have done this, practice it 1000 more times. By the time you get up there you will be so bored and confident in your reading of it that it will no longer be as big of a deal. This applies to people who do not stutter as well. But it really helps. If you practice a lot and know the speech by heart you will be able to keep a good rythem reading it and you might even be able to pull it off without stuttering at all.

[happy7117]

1-- I'm sure you heard this many times, but a person
who has to give a speech eases fear by imagining
the audience in their underwear...goes for
anyone who stutters or not...

2-- Carry note-cards around- and practice reading
your speech at any free moment--

For example::: have notecards in your pocket
with your speech- and when you are in heavy traffic--
take em out and memorize-- when you are waiting in line somewhere, take out your note-cards and memorize---my point-- use waiting time to
practice your speech....

3-- Record your speech into a tape recorder-- play it over and over

4- Visualize success...

5- Breathe deeply--

6- Have water during your speech...

7- If your allowed to during the day of your
speech, read it from small index cards.. but be
sure to focus your eyes on the audience to let
them know you are interested...it's still
neccesary to memorize the speech-- but
have the note cards to glance down at when you think you might forget...sort of a security blanket...
just having them in your pocket during the speech can also seve as a reminder of what you need to say

8- have a very full and healthy breakfast...

9-- GET A GREAT NIGHT SLEEP--

10-- before you start the speech, casualy
inform the audience that you stutter...telling them
casualy that you stutter will take lots of pressure
off if and when you do stutter, knowing the problem
is out in the open, may make you stutter alot less..

11- If you stutter somewhat during your speech,
but manage to deliver your speech in a very
confident way , with lots of emotion, you might
just be looking at a standing ovation!!!

12- Be sure to celebrate when your speech
is over at the most appropiate time-- (if this is
a graduation ceremony-- celebrate right after
graduation-- and be sure to make a toast
to your speech as well!!)

If this was a class presentation-- use
visualize aids to point at as you give your
speech-- looking at your visual aids
as well as breifly glancing at an audience will
make you less nervous, and it will still let them know you are still interested in them, and not
"talking to your props"!!

[Standingtall]

Hey Happy, you forgot one.
Afterward, go to hooters and have some wings, look down at the menu and order a drink. A couple of jugs of apple juice for me and mine friends.

sg88, you will do fine, you are getting excellent advice. For, me I will do the best job possible, use many of the advice giving and do it for my classmates, friends, family and myself. I will be leaving that stage, a proud man because I did the best I could and everybody will know that. During the speech, bring forth your powerful positive emotions and your heart. Once again, congrats and break a leg.

[studentdoc]

Really great advice greaT!! sg88, they're not pain killers or a "high". They are anti-anxiety drugs that helped me before during 4 on 1 interviews for medical schools, they must chilled me out a little and got my mind off of stuff. But, if you do all the other stuff advised here, you should do just fine and even maybe receive a standing ovation!! Just picture yourself doing so well, in all of the 10,000 you practice your speech. Put yourself in that position and imagine giving a confident speech, even if you stutter, in a hypnosis type of imagining. Live it before you do it.