In college, I couldn't speak in class. Seriously. Presentations? Oh, I was fine with those. I just couldn't speak in class. Every time a professor asked a question that I knew the answer to, all I had to do was just think of raising my hand and my heart would pound faster and stronger and I would start to get warm all over. I got anxious at just the thought of speaking in class. WTFrick?
But the strange thing is that I used to perform almost every night for roughly three years in front of groups of up to 200+ people without any anxiety. I can speak on stage in front of hundreds of my peers and not even break a sweat. I've given class presentations and professional presentations, I've taught kids as young as 6 and adults twice my age without one single brain fart. But apparently, there are two places where I become a nervous wreck - 1) the classroom when answering a question, and 2) the courtroom when answering a question. And I wasn't even on trial!
Here is what my nerves looked like:
(On Monday and Tuesday this week, I reported for jury duty selection. I was not selected. I was, however, called upon to answer some questions to determine if I would be an alternate juror.)
I've been on a jury panel for one whole year and I was nervous every time I got one of those letters in the mail stating that I am being summoned for jury selection. I think the fact that we're "summoned" makes us all nervous, even though we're not the one on trial.
ReplyDeleteThat's me Polly - I'm on a panel for a year!
ReplyDeleteThe summons in the mail is fine for me. It was the summons that was delivered to my home by a cop 4 years ago that got me all nervous. And earlier this year a cop showed up at my office to deliver a jury summons for James.