The Fundamentals of Speech students just finished giving their first speech of the semester. For many, the class is a rite of passage, one of those things that college students of every generation share.
The raw nerves of a “first-speech” day tend to bring all kinds of things to the surface. Nervous habits make their debut, and pet words or phrases become magnified. Sometimes, we see a student blossom. By the last speech, they are more confident, more comfortable with the audience, and more at ease with the podium. And they have fewer inclinations to run from the room.
It’s always exciting to see a student apply principles from class and grow from the beginning to the end. That’s one way we know that learning has occurred. But the best part is seeing the students go on to use those skills to teach kids on extension, preach in their church, present their experiences from a mission trip, or confidently share their testimony.
The learning process is certainly enjoyable, but the end product is what it’s all about. Even as a teacher, that’s easy to forget when you’re neck-deep in projects. But with each step forward, you remember.