Special Speeches: Presentations in High School or College

00:00 So, how do you make a presentation if you're in high school or college? First thing to realize is you're at a level playing field.

00:07 There are certain things that 50 or 60 year old executives or politicians can do or get away with that perhaps you can't.

00:15 But speaking isn't one of those things, the very same things a 50, 60, 70 year old who's a great, polished public speaker does.

00:23 You can do too.

00:26 The things that get people in trouble at any age can get you in trouble, too, if you're looking down and speaking with a flat tone of voice, speaking too quickly, that's bad at any age.

00:38 If you're fidgeting with your fingers and going back and forth from one leg to the next, it's going to make you seem nervous and uncomfortable at any age.

00:46 It doesn't matter if you're five, 50 or 105.

00:51 So part of it is you've got to realize it doesn't matter if I'm in high school, middle school, college or running for President of the United States.

01:00 If I'm standing and speaking, I've got an opportunity to put a spotlight on one idea at a time to make it interesting and memorable for people, or to bore them.

01:12 It really all comes down to that.

01:15 So you've got to somehow figure out what is it that you're talking about that's interesting to you? How can you make it interesting to your fellow classmates, to your teacher? How can you put a spotlight on what's truly important? Ideally, you can show why you have a particular passion for this subject. You do this, and you will be as good a speaker as anyone of any age.