Mustang Gavel Club Spotlight

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Greg Walls

Mustang Gavel Club’s first meeting was a huge success!

Arya Banerjee, Photojournalist

Public speaking is widely considered one of the most difficult and intimidating forms of communication. Whether someone is giving a Spanish presentation or making a speech to the UN, both instances are characterized by some sort of public speaking anxiety. It requires the speaker to engage and captivate an audience while conveying a message or presenting the information. The pressure to perform, combined with the fear of being judged or misunderstood, can make public speaking a daunting feat. Additionally, the ability to connect with a diverse group of people, be decisive under pressure, and deliver a compelling message takes years of practice and experience.

I myself have experienced presentation anxiety. I’m better about presenting now, but before it would take a lot for me to stand up and present to a classroom full of students. The worst part for me was knowing I was being graded on my live performance. The work I put into making the presentation would only count if I aced the presentation. Public speaking anxiety overtook me, but I’ve now learned how to cope with it.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Mustang Gavel Club addresses this universal problem. The board has talked to experts to help curate an agenda to specifically target teenagers with public speaking anxiety. They’ve created a supportive and nonjudgmental space for people to learn everything from how to debate to how to give a presentation in class. The club not only teaches you public speaking skills, but also teaches you how to be confident while you’re speaking, or at least appear to be confident. 

 

They will also have guest speakers, such as local politicians and other figures who do public speaking, to give professional advice on how to maintain one’s composure and speak clearly when presenting

“Gavel Club is a great opportunity to polish your speaking skills and meet new people. It focuses on building a community in which young people are confident public speakers.

— Madison Ems - President and Founder

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“I’ve attended a seminar where a professional came in to talk about public speaking. Learning from someone who publicly speaks for a living helped me so much with my public speaking” shares Lauren Jo (11). Furthermore, they will also hold workshops for developing specific skills. There will be a workshop held for public speaking in debate, mock trial, giving a speech, and presenting a slideshow. Each workshop will be led by an experienced group of people who will mentor students through the process. Also, meetings will be held for  students to bring their public speaking material and practice presenting. They will even peer review your presentation to ensure you present your best work.