A Reflective Story

The first time I spoke at assembly, my knees felt like jelly. I had practised my short talk about ocean rubbish at home, but the rows of people looked enormous from the stage. When my name was called, I nearly stayed in my seat. I took a slow breath and walked to the microphone. My voice wobbled on the first sentence. Then I spotted my friend Oliver smiling in the crowd, and I remembered the words I had practised. By the end, I was speaking clearly. A few people clapped, and I returned to my seat grinning. I had been nervous, but I was also proud that I kept going. I learnt that courage does not mean having no fear; sometimes it means taking the next step while you are still afraid.