07/06/2026
Speak Up! Stand Out! Shine Bright!
I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was 6 years of age, my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, and I felt sick. My dad helped me carry my much too heavy guitar onto the stage where I plucked out a simple song during the offering. Years later, as a teen, I was pushed onto the stage despite my nerves and fears - despite my apprehensions and teen hormones. I hated it - at the moment, but looking back, I know I was afraid, but those experiences made me a different person. I learned that I could. I learned that fear doesn't have to stop me.
CONFIDENT SPEAKERS
Less likely to be bullied, harassed, or assaulted
More likely to make positive peer and adult connections and do other hard things or face their fears
AS ADULTS:
Bring Career Success
Bring Leadership Professionally or personally – leaders are the change makers!
DON’T LET THE SHY OFF THE HOOK!
Your shy student Needs this MORE than their outgoing peer. The stakes are high in life.
WHAT ARE THE STAKES? DOES IT MATTER?
Imagine that your child is being addressed by an adult / peer they respect. They are being told they are ignorant for holding their beliefs.
How likely will your not confident child be to counter the argument? To ask the hard questions of the other person?
How likely will it be that they will harbor the ideas and rethink? Or begin to agree?
Without the confidence that comes naturally from practicing confident speech, our children are at risk.
HOW CAN YOU INSPIRE SPEECH CONFIDENCE?
Practice !
Early Years:
-order in a restaurant for themselves
-answer the phone
-ask questions at the doctor's
Gr 5-12
-make appointments for themselves
-advocate for themselves with teachers and leaders (you can practice with them)
-include them in adult conversations with friends about hot topics
Speech Confidence Matters and the middle-school and high-school years are the time to branch out!
DiscernToLearn.com
