TBT: How I Got My Start in Public Speaking

As a Speech Communication major, I get asked all the time why in the world I would subject myself to the torture they like to call public speaking? And honestly, I love it. I love having the attention of everyone in the room, making them laugh, maybe even making them cry. I love more importantly talking to people about my passion for agriculture and helping them to understand and love it just as much as I do.

This easily started with my involvement in 4-H. The picture of the young lady making Kool-Aid was the six year old, clover bud in 4-H, Maggie making her very first public speaking appearance. I started from a very young age, with very simple topics, getting up and talking to people, educating them. My family said from that moment they knew I was made for the public speaking stage. Over the years, I did more and more activities that got me up in front of a crowd and actually was selected as the Public Speaking Contest Champion in my last year of 4-H.

I simply love the thrill of watching my audience. I love the feeling I get in the pit of my stomach as I am about to speak. I love the feeling of accomplishment when the speech is completed. And more importantly, I love the feeling that I made a difference in my audiences day and hopefully their lives.