Date: 3-28-2010 originally posted
Fear is a preventer.
Fear is a prison owner.
Fear is a opportunity not taken.
Fear is a thief.
Fear is a destroyer.
Fear is doubt all grown up.
Fear is a tormenter.
Fear is an isolator and a devastator.
Fear prevents many from pursuing their lives goals and ambitions.
Fear holds millions captive by it's tormentive ability.
Fear Kills; it kills dreams, plans, and even people (literally).
Fear is the the enemy of hope
the thief of peace,
and the murderer of risk.
Fear of the unknown prones us fear more.
fear is the robber of "what could have been".
Fear is strong in the hands of the permissive but weak in the hands of the brave.
It is your choice;
Will you let fear rule you, or will you overcome it?
The experiment:
Survey on Fear.
Questions that will be asked on the survey:
1. Do you fear public speaking?
2. If you had to choose between giving a speech in front of 25 students or 1000, which one would it be?
3. Do you get really nervous before the speech? (Sweaty palms, sweaty pits and a dry mouth?)
4. Why do you think public speaking makes you so afraid/nervous, or people in general? What do you think is that root of your fear?
5. Do you agree with this statement, "People fear public speaking more than death."
Predicted reactions:
Although I can not predict the exact answers that will be submitted, I do predict that there will be commonalities between the answers: There will be more similarities than differences.
1. Most people will be afraid of public speaking.
2. Most do get nervous before making a speech/presentation.
3. The root of fear, is the fear of being judged by others.
Date: 3-30-2010 Response
Actual Reactions:
The class was very receptive to the survey. Here are the statistical results of the survey:
1. Do you fear public speaking?
5/11- Yes
6/11- No
2. If you had to choose between giving a speech in front of 25 students or 1000, which one would it be?
4/11- 25 Students
2/11- 1000 Students
5/11- Does not make a difference
3. Do you get really nervous before the speech? (Sweaty palms, sweaty pits and a dry mouth?)
9/11- Yes
2/11- No
4. Why do you think public speaking makes you so afraid/nervous, or people in general? What do you think is that root of your fear?
Overall answer: Fear of what people will think and of failing.
5. Do you agree with this statement, "People fear public speaking more than death."
10/11- Yes
1/11- No
These results are extremely surprising to me. I am shocked that most answers reveal that people are not afraid of public speaking, at least not the people in the this class. But most did agree with the statement:
"People fear public speaking more than death." 10/11 agreed. I really thought the majority would be afraid of public speaking, but was I wrong.
This reaction was a combination of what I expected and what I did not expect.
My reaction to the false eye:
The greatest reaction I have had overall was the experiment given by the student with only one eye. That really stuck with me not only because of the shock of it (having a fake eye) but also just the risk he took in sharing such a sensitive part of himself with everyone. That showed such vulnerability. Even to have some people turn away when he took it out (me included) showed courage and again vulnerability. That is very admirable. I have gained not only respect for him but also for many of the other students in the classroom who made themselves opened to us.
-This project has also allowed me to open up to others more easily.
-It has caused me to self-confront one of my fears of speaking in front of others (even though it was a short time)
-I was able to feel more comfortable with expressing my ideas through conversation times
-This project birthed a new disgust within me that I have carried for the fear of verbal
communication and
expression
-I think this new disgust of this fear will cause me to desire even more to confront and overcome it at every given opportunity and even to create opportunities for myself to exercise the
overcomming of this fear
