Speaking up in college isn't always easy. Whether you are sitting in a packed lecture hall, trying to connect with your professors, or attending a social gathering. If you have ever avoided asking questions in your classroom, even when you are completely lost, you’re not alone, I have been there too. There is no surprise that after years of online classes and social distancing, we have become accustomed to distancing ourselves. It might feel scary at first, but once you take the steps, speaking up can actually become exciting and even start to feel natural.

Why Speaking Up in College Feels Hard

Research shows that it's not only you–so many students around the world experience anxiety when speaking in public, which affects academic performance and social interactions around campus. After years of online learning and social distancing, many feel unprepared to communicate head-on. In fact, according to Reuben Kindred and Geln W. Bates of the Department of Psychological Sciences at the Swinburne University of Technology, “social anxiety has been heightened in the general population due to the pandemic.” Maintaining relationships with others became more difficult during the pandemic, and since isolation was the priority, many of us got used to the idea of being isolated. Many of us, including myself, continue to stay within reach of my closest friends, not reaching for newer connections. Over time, we simply forgot how to start a friendly conversation, and the anxiety only grew stronger. Research shows that a significant percentage of students experience anxiety when speaking in public, which affects both their academic and social experiences. The fear of being judged, whether it's what you say or how others might react, can make starting conversations feel like a task.

The good news? Speaking with confidence is a skill that can be developed with practice. The more you engage in conversations, the easier it becomes. Before working on building confidence, it is important to recognize the signs that show you might be struggling with it.

Signs That You Struggle with Speaking With Confidence

• Avoiding speaking in class, even when you know the answer

• Struggling to start conversions at social events

• Overthinking what to say and staying quiet

• Relying on emails instead of face-to-face conversations

We’ve all been in the position when we know the answer, but we still hesitate to raise our hands in class, or being invited to an open discussion and wanting to contribute, but second-guessing whether our opinions and thoughts are worth it. Speaking with confidence may seem simple to some, but for countless college students, it's anything but easy. Feeling the pressure to provide the correct answer or being weighed down by anxiety over how others will react is a common feeling. A great example of this comes from Ariel Zavala, a recent graduate who shared, “I was a first-generation student, and I didn't know how important it was to create friendships and connect with my professors. At that time, I was even too scared to ask my professor questions, knowing that I failed my last test.” Zavala's fear of being judged for not having the perfect answer held him back, and it only fueled more of his anxiety. But over time, he began to learn that reaching out to speak with other college students is essential for future career success and that college is an experience that will build lifelong connections. You might have found yourself doing some of the following without even realizing it:

Does it sound familiar? If it does, you are definitely not alone. Many students have been in this very spot, feeling like speaking up is not something as important. I know the feeling, it says the “right” answers or the fear of standing out can be incredibly scary. But everyone starts somewhere, and the more practice you get, the more it becomes natural. It is not always easy, but striving to speak to others can lead to deeper friendships, stronger confidence, and open doors for new opportunities.