PART B:
I've been a committee member, a student representative and a published author during the course of my education but for as long as I can remember, I have been an anchor first.
Never one to shy away from the limelight, I always occupied center stage, ever since I was first introduced to it in the third grade. I loved the stage and it loved me right back. In fact, speaking on stage came so naturally to me, that even my teachers could see it. As a result, I found myself almost invariably selected year after year, to compère for various school events.
Fast forward to 8th grade, while I was practicing as the host for my school's annual function, the Director of my school, who had come to review our preparation, cautioned me against nervous mumbling since renowned choreographer Saroj Khan was to be the guest of honour at the function. Although I did not pay her warning much heed, the warning has sown seeds of self-doubt in the back of my head. Cue the day of the event, I become apprehensive and faltered onstage for the first time in my life.
Consequently, I developed stage fright and bid adieu to the stage I loved so much. Until my second year in college, that is.
I was sitting amongst an audience of scholarship holders and 15 minutes before the start of the awards ceremony, one of the coordinators informed me that I would be making a speech, no questions asked, and no protests entertained. In a bid to save face, I quickly scrawled a few sentences to say onstage in time before my name was announced. The long walk towards the stage, coupled with the doom of impending embarrassment, loomed over my head making me nervous. I spoke my bit and looked around to see an audience of around 400 people- students, parents and faculty clapping for me. It was the most thrilling experience of my life.
Have I completely overcome my fear of faltering on stage? I’d be lying if I said yes. Has this led to me getting back onstage and giving it my best shot? I’d be lying if I said no.