44 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® it to lurch up into the air and fall forward on its face. It was so startling that someone screamed. It was perfect! I rushed to start CPR. After about a minute or so when everyone realized what was going on, I stopped, returned to the lectern, and completed my speech on how to give CPR and why everyone should learn it. Once again, I got a standing ovation from the class. And once again, the teacher gave me an “F.” Her reason: I was too dramatic. This was three “Fs” on three speeches, and I only had one left. I could not afford any bad grades if I was to get into medical school. I met with the teacher to ask how I could keep from failing her class. She told me I had to make an “A” on the final speech to pass the class. It was to be an informative speech on a topic of our choosing and it should demonstrate a confidence in the speaking skills we’d developed to date. I contritely asked her to recommend a topic to me since I seemed to have difficulty in choosing ones she liked. She suggested I give a speech on weather towers. This struck me as odd; they weren't relevant in the news, and there had been no discussion of them in class, but I wasn't about to argue. I knew nothing about weather towers, they had nothing to do with my major, so I spent the next week reading and studying about them. I then wrote a speech like an English composition paper: introduction, body, and conclusion. It was a dull subject I didn’t dare spice up. On the day of the speech, I was so nervous I was actually shaking. I stammered and stuttered, sweated profusely, and clung to the sides of the lectern in a white-knuckle death grip as I read my speech word for word. By the time I read the conclusion, my throat was so dry I could barely croak out the words. Upon finishing, I walked hunch-shouldered back to my desk. I knew I had just failed the class. To my shock, the teacher gave me an “A,” and extolled how well I covered the subject. In the end, I received a “B” for my final grade. I presumed that after beating the joy of speaking out of me, the grade was my reward for becoming an obedient, rulefollowing, conformist. I was disgusted by the entire experience, and felt my first three speeches were the best, but the cumulative effect of the class was to suppress my desire back into the deepest recesses of my consciousness. I may sound bitter, but I believe my experience in that class, and the final speech incident in particular, stymied my speaking ability and discouraged my desire to speak for years. Even 16 years later, when I had to give a monthly speech as my neighborhood association president, I was still reading while gripping the sides of the lectern to keep from shaking. Yet, it was during this time I recognized my subconscious passion. It happened when I attended a conference dinner featuring a speaker who was funny, informative, and clearly enjoying herself immensely. In that moment, I was moved by a desire so powerful I finally knew what I really wanted to do with the rest of my life. Digging into my past to uncover the subconscious trauma that created my negative character traits and limiting beliefs, revealed to me how my pattern of attracting bullies likely influenced my becoming a nonconformist; and how my nonconformity only created more reasons to bully me. I've learned how to stand up to bullies, but I’m still learning to rebuild my damaged self-esteem which will eventually repel them. My shadow work continues. Robert Robert is an innovation/change speaker, author, and consultant. He works with companies that want to be more competitive through innovation and with people who want to think more creatively. Contact him via e-mail to: michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com Wilson Cont’d from page 43. Louisiana Ground Water Association 2024 Convention & Trade Show January 9-10, 2024 Paragon Casino Resort Marksville, Louisiana ATTENTION CONTRACTORS - This will be your only opportunity to obtain Education Points for the state of Louisiana. Registration Form Available Online at: https://LGWA.org Discount Code LGJ08GR
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