As I was growing up, speaking in public was a great fear for me. I believe it started when I was about 8 years old, standing up in front of the classroom and trying to recite the words that were written on the blackboard.  I remember being so scared that I would just freeze and my mind would just draw a blank and I would end up in tears.

Even as an adult, I had a hard time introducing myself, stating were I was from and my occupation.  I couldn’t concentrate or relax until my turn was over. I even tried to write everything down on a piece of paper so that I only had to read it.

About 7 years ago, I attended Red Deer College to get my site manager’s certificate. One evening, the instructor announced that everyone had to prepare a 2-minute presentation  for next day’s class. My heart fell to the ground. That night I never slept a wink. I wrote out a few sentences on a piece of paper and I played it over and over in my mind all night long.

It wasn’t until I met Zaheen that I knew I could get help to overcome this fear. Approximately two weeks after my coaching session with Zaheen I had to attend a large manager’s meeting. Something seemed different this time, I was more relaxed. I was sitting at one end of the table and we started with introductions and site reports. The person beside me was first and then it was to be my turn but instead they went the other way and I was last. It was just amazing as I sat there throughout the day listening to people with not a care in the world and most of all I wasn’t panicking! When it came my turn to speak I was so relaxed it was like I had done this all my life.  I even got up off my chair and stood up to talk. I could have talked for a long time because I was just so full of energy and it felt like I was bouncing off the walls. Most of all I think I did a pretty good job.

After the meeting, a lady that I have known for sometime came up to me and told me that the moment I walked into that meeting she noticed that there was something different about me.  She asked what I had done.  I told her that I have met a lady by the name of Zaheen and she is coaching me on how to overcome my fear. She was just amazed and so am I.  I cannot thank you enough Zaheen, for helping me overcome my fear of public speaking. I am looking forward to when I have to speak in public again.

Thank you once again.