Kasey Hullett

In today’s reality, at some point, you may have to give a speech or presentation in front of an audience. Sophomore English students are working towards being prepared for many types of speeches through practice and formal presentations. By using strategies studied in psychology, students will be able to give speeches with more confidence.

For example, the elevator speech has connections to the real world. The idea is that you have less than a minute to sell yourself to someone important–like a potential employer. You have the time you spend in an elevator ride to make a strong impression.

However, many students still battle nerves. One way to combat this is to do one of the many “power poses.” Studies have shown that doing one of these poses for five minutes before a speech or important meeting increases the testosterone levels in your brain and reduces cortisol. Therefore, it makes you more confident and less nervous. With practice and psychology, these sophomores will be prepared for the real world!