As the lights dim for the presentation to start, the crowd falls silent. All eyes turn to the front of the room eagerly awaiting the speaker to enlighten or portray a vision. The presenter takes a deep breath while a slight nervous tap forms a quick-tempo rhythm stretching through his finger tips. Heart beat speeds. It is about to begin.

Senior Editor in Chief of The Talon News Matt Garnett and adviser Stacy Short presented two sessions at the Texas Association of Journalism Educator’s convention on Oct. 26 at the Wyndham Hotel. The sessions covered sports etiquette and raising money through photography. It was the first session Garnett has given in front of over 100 convention-goers. Public speaking is a skill he plans to perfect.

“I was a little nervous,” 18-year-old Garnett said. “I don’t speak in front of groups very often, but I was speaking about things that I knew front and back. It took a lot of the pressure off.”

With seventy-five percent of the American population suffering from speech anxiety, people tend to form small habits that suggest nervous behavior. Garnett notes his ways of handling the anxiety.

“I definitely try not to speed up my words,” he said. “But, sometimes I speed up that last sentence.”

Garnett owed some of his cool demeanor to his co-presenter.

“I was with Mrs. Short so I knew if I got to a part where I was stumbling around, she could pick it up and was there for me,” he said.

The sessions Garnett and Short presented were positively received over all, despite the 50-minute time slot they were allowed. The topic of how to make money through photography in a publication was heavily sought after and gave the duo confidence in their presentation.

“I think it was successful!” Garnett said. “The content we went over in the second seminar was pretty advanced. We had a really good crowd show up but there was just so much content to fit in.”

Through presenting at TAJE and various other outlets, Garnett has found a new appreciation for teaching by overcoming the fear of public speaking.

“I understand kids that have the yearning to learn,” Garnett said. “I want to be able to point them in the right direction. “

Garnett admits he was a bit full of himself when he was younger and didn’t have the patience to teach others his skills.

“But, by being quite a bit further ahead in technology, I had to learn to do so much of it on my own,” he said.

Although Garnett has gained much knowledge regarding technology over the years, it did not come easily and required much dedication.

“I want to share the knowledge that I have learned because when I started out there wasn’t really anyone, besides Ms. Short, who could help me,” Garnett said. “I wished I had a mentor or someone who I could have asked ‘why is this not working’. The technology side of things I had to teach myself.”

Through these experiences, Garnett has found ways to prevent falling back into the trap of fear public speaking brings, and he has learned to push himself to improve.

“I have overcome some of my nervousness,” he said. “Now I need to refine my skills set.”

With ideas of the future, Garnett believes that public speaking will be a crucial part to his life.

“As I get older, go to college, and then go to the business world there will be formal situations,” Garnett said. “I will have to stand in front of my co-workers and be able to articulate a good reason for them to want to be a part of my vision.”