Hi everyone! I am Sophia Li! I am passionate about empowering the youth to overcome their fear of public speaking and hosting workshops to learn and improve!

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English wasn’t my first language.  I didn’t think much of it because I was just an elementary student and, just like others, did not really care about how I sounded to others. However, as I entered middle school, it felt different. I thought that everyone would judge how I speak because I did not speak as clearly as others. I dreaded presenting to others because every time I had to, my heart starts beating fast, and I think about every little thing that could go wrong. 

When I moved schools the summer of 8th grade, I thought that I could get out of my comfort zone. I decided to sign up for Speech and Debate, the club I longed to join in middle school but never did because I felt like I was not good enough. I was scared the first few rounds I did but realized that no one really cares about how you speak. We all get nervous speaking in front of others but do not show it. 

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After discovering that many people feel the same way as me, I became inspired to create an organization that will help them overcome their fear.  I want everyone to feel like they can speak in front of people without fearing judgment. It took a lot of getting out of my comfort zone to realize this, but we all grow from getting out of comfort zones.

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To me, my mission is crucial to society. According to The National Institute of Mental Health, public speaking anxiety affects 73% of the population. I plan to help lower that percentage through interactive workshops, interviews, and posts. As the organization grows, I plan on doing blog posts, podcasts, and so much more to encourage everyone to get out of their comfort zone and not feel like public speaking is a chore.

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-Sophia Li :)