Daily writing prompt

Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?

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The short answer to this is no. However, saying this would kind of be a lie because while I’ve never performed on a stage by myself or willingly, I have been involved in certain functions with a viewing audience. I was involved in school plays and Christmas concerts over the course of my years in elementary school, the rehearsal of which all lead me to feel pressure when the performance started. I’m not usually a man who is capable of being quiet for any length of time and in fact growing up when I was told to be quiet for some reason, it was seen as a derogatory comment by me rather than me being able to assess the situation in front of me and realize that it was just needed at that time. As being quiet during any performance and only speaking when it’s your turn to say your lines is necessary, this aspect of any performance I’ve been involved in has been hard. I get nervous that the wrong thing will come out and this usually results in me laughing uncontrollably and in general, I’m not a quiet person. Even when I think, I tend to project my thoughts out loud, the contents of which sometimes will lead me to get in trouble for being too loud. Being quiet is just not my thing. I’ve also had some embarrassment when it came to performing as well. This came in the form of forgetting my lines and even having an accident out of nerves, the latter of which got me kicked out of one play I was scheduled to be in. I’ve been involved in spelling bees throughout my early life, (both in school and out of school and I did not win either one,) as well as having to sit out of some performances in high school due to lack of preparedness for the performance. Despite me never wanting to perform in front of people, I have been involved in some performances which I have to be honest is hard to do and not a way I like to spend my time. Would I ever do it again? I would have to say no.