Stage Fright I have this fear. It causes my legs to shake. I break out in a cold sweat. I start jabbering to anyone who is nearby. As thoughts of certain death run through my mind, the world appears a precious, treasured place. I imagine my own funeral, and then shrink back at the implications of where my thoughts are taking me. My stomach feels strange. My palms are clammy. I was in the ninth grade in October 2004 in India. That was my new school. People were unknown and teachers were new to me. Moreover, I was a shy girl. My teacher selected me for the speech. It was a competition. My topic was “Family v/s Career.” So many things there in my mind were scaring.
First thing was, “what am I going to say?”
Second think was, “how will I speak in front of that huge audience?”
Last think was, “everyone will make a fun of me.”
I had two weeks to prepare. My mom and my instructor helped me with preparing my speech. The day of completion came. The completion was in the school’s private auditorium. I waited tensely behind the stage curtain, reciting my lines as if my life depended on it, whom was I kidding? My life did depend on it. If I failed here then all of my dignity would shatter like a bullet on glass. There was one, rather insignificant consolation, the blatant expressions on the other kids' faces portrayed that they were just as apprehensive as I was. My eyes were glued to my script as if magnetically attracted to it. I desperately tried to focus, but it was futile because people already on stage insisted on saying their lines: it drove me insane.
"You sure you're okay?" asked my instructor. She placed her hand on my shoulder: comfortingly. I took a deep breath.
` "Yeah, I'm okay." I replied whilst exhaling.
"Alright, good girl." she said and continued her rounds. She stopped to talk with a little girl, younger than I, named Kajal. I myself however, was