Presentation Anxiety

In this letter, the writer describes their experience at school during a presentation project. Initially, they weren’t scared, but witnessing their classmates making fun of their friends’ presentations caused them anxiety. The writer imagined being mocked and felt a growing fear as their turn to speak approached. They wished for the bell to ring and to skip the presentation. Despite being unprepared, their teacher urged them to speak. The writer’s hands sweat, and their ears turned warm as they stood in front of the silent class. They couldn’t remember anything about the topic and decided to remain silent until their teacher instructed them to return to their seat. The writer felt relieved to have avoided potential mockery, but later regretted not trying. The teacher commended other classmates for their efforts, causing the writer to feel guilty and fearful.