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From: Alan Badmington
Date: 07 Oct 2004
Time: 00:48:46 -0500
Remote Name: 81.77.122.41
Hi Kelly, I feel that (despite our negative thoughts about stuttering) the majority of people are more interested in the what we say, rather than the manner in which we say it. Did I feel that I lost out at school? Oh yes, most certainly! There were so many occasions on which I wanted to participate in class but I chose not to because of my stutter. I appeared to have my greatest difficulties when 'all eyes were upon me' and I was the focus of attention. However, I have a vivid recollection of standing up during an English class to respond to a question from the teacher. The word I had to say was 'Colloquialism'. (The letter 'c' was one of the 13 letters that I had convinced myself I could not say). I struggled for about five minutes, but I was proud that I was the only pupil to know the correct answer ;-) During recent years, I've overcome my fear of speaking in front of audiences by joining several public speaking clubs (similar to Toastmasters International). If I had plucked up the courage to speak more often in class when I was a child, then I feel that I may have overcome that particular fear at a much earlier age. If we avoid words/speaking situations, the fear grows. We are fuelling it. Thank you for taking the time to respond to my article. Kindest regards Alan