I’ve always struggled with confidence. It is something that has never come easy to me. When I take my daily vitamin C tablet in the morning, I sometimes wish that confidence could come in the form of a colorful, chewable pill as well.
As a communications major, people have said to me “Oh, you must be pretty good at talking,” or “I bet you just love to talk.” But in reality, talking to strangers is intimidating to me and was something I avoided. Butterflies filled my stomach and my lips clammed up.
Confidence is a skill that I’ve been practicing within my words and nonverbal communication. Those “um’s” and “like’s” will not leave your speech on its own. It takes time and practice.
In my public affairs reporting class two guest speakers came and talked with us: Brigid Schulte of the Washington Post and her husband Tom Bowman, a Pentagon reporter for NPR.
As the award winning power couple talked about their work and life as reporters, one thing stood out to me. A classmate asked for advice for when she has to interview and talk to new people on the phone, since talking to someone you don’t know can be scary and a little daunting. In response, Schulte shared with us that she, too, still gets anxious when cold calling sources. She indicated that we just have to make the phone call and be confident in your words and self.
It was comforting knowing that even Pulitzer Prize winning journalists, like Brigid Schulte, get nervous too. This was a reminder to me that we are all human and that confidence is not a superpower in certain people.
I am currently reading the book “Lean In” by Sheryl Sandberg. Sandberg is the Chief Operating Officer at Facebook and has been a strong voice for women in the work place.
“We hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back when we should be learning in.” –Sheryl Sandberg
She has become my new life role model who gives me confidence in being a woman, a leader, and myself.
So Her Campus Portland readers, while it can be easy to tear down your confidence, I share this with you to encourage you to build up your self-confidence! Confidence doesn’t happen overnight, but with time and practice you will feel more comfortable in taking on new situations.
After all, “Confidence is like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it gets.” –Unknown