I think everyone remembers their first time. It can be nerve racking, and impossible to know how it will turn out when you’ve never had the experience before. Eyes studying you on a level that you are not used to, and being hyper aware of every movement and sound that you make, as well as how you carry your body and deliver.
My first time took place in the spring of my 6th year of school. I panicked at first, like all kids do, but once I made a plan and drew up some note cards, I awaited the afternoon when it would happen.
I was most nervous about hearing the word ‘oral’.
You see, my English teacher that year, Mr. Drugan was a hard ass. He was the first male classroom teacher that I had in my entire life. As I sat at my desk one sunny afternoon that spring, he began to write directions on the chalkboard (yeah, that’s right, I loved clapping the erasers too….I got to go outside and toss them, and then catch the clap….)
As he spoke, he wrote:…”everyone in the class will deliver a 5-10 minute oral report on the topic of their choosing. The topic must be approved by me, and we will draw from a hat to determine presentation order. This oral report may be the first time many of you experience speaking in front of a group of your peers, and I will be providing feedback on your presentation in the form of written notes, given to you upon the conclusion of your talk. The class will be allowed to ask you questions as part of your presentation, so be prepared to be an ‘expert’ on your topic. You will have class and library time during the day, to research and outline your oral report. One thing must be stressed to you: No one will be allowed to read from a written paper. You will be allowed up to 5 notecards that will be labeled with bullet points to outline your topic. The main reason for this assignment is to work on public speaking skills, which you will need throughout your adult life. We are starting down that road of development right now.”
Well, that was the gist. I don’t remember much of the exact wording, since the assignment took place in the spring of 1985. I remember thinking that 5 minutes didn’t seem like a long time to talk, but it probably was….and I remember a bunch of kids saying that they were going to do “how to play football, how to tap dance, how to blah blah blah…”
I chose How to Play the Snare Drum.
I had begun playing in school one year prior, and I loved it, was good at it, and felt comfortable with the topic.
At home, I decided that I would start with the drum in its case, show the class how to set up the stand, place the drum on it, grip the sticks, and play a few notes. Not only could the class ask questions; I would also allow a few of my friends to come up and play. This would also kill time, so I didn’t have to talk too much.
Oh if I ever knew what door I was about to open.
Before I knew it, the afternoon of my first time was upon me. I went to the front of the class, and began to list the parts of the drum on the blackboard. I began to speak, while gesturing to the words I had just written…
Time went fast, too fast. I set up the drum and spoke, and played, and kids came up and spoke and played and I answered questions and more questions and Mr. Drugan was standing in the back of the room writing and I had my note cards but I didn’t really need them since I knew what I was saying and I remember thinking ‘hey this isn’t so hard, and it’s kind of fun, and people are listening to me and I’m teaching them and I like this and I like this and I think I want to do it again sometime and maybe I will give more oral reports in the future but I have no idea how or why I would do this and who would ask me and I might be going to fast and in my excitement I might finish before I’m supposed to and that means some other kid will have to go today because I didn’t take up enough time and I think I don’t know how to end so I will just thank everyone for listening to my oral report on How To Play The Snare Drum and I’m done and I’ll sit back down now and take a breath, woo that was pretty cool but with all that adrenaline, I could use a nap.
At the end of the class, Mr. Drugan told me to wait and speak with him. I got one of those hot flashes of terror that you get as a kid when authority singles you out. Uh-oh.
I went up to his desk and he handed me his comment sheet. There were two things written down:
- “Speak to us, not BB.”
- Finish one topic before moving on.
I read it and asked what ‘BB’ meant.
“Don’t speak to the blackboard instead of us as the audience. If you speak with your head turned toward the board, we can’t hear you. Patrick that’s not why I called you to stay. I couldn’t find anything else to comment on. Your presentation and presence in front of the class was outstanding. The kids respect you and they wanted to listen to you. You did not appear nervous and you spoke clearly, while making eye contact and covering all of your points. I wanted to tell you that you already demonstrate the confidence of someone who can speak publicly. In the future, you would be wise to develop this talent in some way. Excellent job; I never write only two comments on this assignment. Please go next door to social studies now.”
Just like that, my first time was over. As I write this, some 41 years later, I can almost still feel the rush of being in front of my peers. As I said….everyone remembers their first time.
Hey Mr. Drugan….thanks, and I am still developing that talent. I have yet to meet a microphone that I don’t like, although I have been told that I have a face for radio.
Stay safe, stay awesome, and stay tuned.
Moeschen! 