NEWeatherguy wrote:Right now, I am somewhat stressed and down about life in general.
We all get there.
NEWeatherguy wrote:Second, is my personal fave...NOT...public speaking (speech). Again, the teacher is cool. Wednesday, I have to give a mini 1-2 minute speech about myself. Here is how I feel: Not necessarily nervous about getting in front of about 20 students and the instructor (it is in a very small room in a 'office building'-like structure). Why? Well, I will either have the entire class erupt into laughter (instructor included) when I begin to describe myself, or will have about 21 people snoring!
Well, for me, the key to effective public speaking is to know your subject well. I always hated it in school. But if you get up there and know what you're talking about and show confidence that you know what you're talking about, then it doesn't matter whether you're talking to 2 people or 200.
Sounds like you don't have a whole lot of confidence in the subject, though. Maybe you can jot down some things about yourself and we can help spice it up. I don't know if I'll be too good at it, but we have some other people here who might be able to help as well. 1-2 minutes really isn't much time to fill -- most people won't say too much more than their name, where they live, where they were born, what they're studying, blah blah blah.
NEWeatherguy wrote:This leads into my third point: I am beginning to think I am not a very interesting individual. It is like I am invisible or something. The last time I ever went out with friends or dated a girl was........................August 2004. I am beginning to think nothing good can happen; I am going to be a lonely, depressed person or the rest of my life. I had it up until August when it was pertinent to let Emily (if you want a bit of a refresher course, just search for "Emily" with my username.) go due to her being a bit untruthful.
This past week, I have been questioning whether or not to continue striving for strong friendships/relationships.
Hmm... I don't know you, so I can't say. And I'm no expert in matters of the heart -- who is? -- but I remember this feeling well. I wasn't in a very good place in my life several years back, and I met someone and really fell for her (or at least I thought so). But nothing really materialized, and then she went back to her ex (I think), and it felt like someone close to me died. I look back on it 6+ years later and realize she did me a huge favor by walking away from me. She was more than a bit untruthful, and there would have been a lot of trouble. (And I found other things out later, as well.) But the hurt it caused hung around for a while, and I didn't realize it, but I needed a break from dating. Instead, I tried to jump right back in and promptly sabotaged every possible relationship I could have had for... oh... about 2 years, because they didn't make me feel like she did. Yeah, I was a prize.
Sounds to me like you might need the break that I never took. Don't focus on dating. Just try to meet people. Don't pass up social activities. Get out there. You become interesting by experiencing and learning new things. You're still looking for your niche. Nobody really finds it in college, but you will eventually. In the meantime, just stay active, participate, join clubs, get involved.
I know the feeling -- it's like you're looking at life through a one-way mirror, right? You can see everyone and they're all having a good time, but nobody can see you. But you're in college -- one of the best social outlets humankind has ever invented. Do not stand on the sidelines. I know this sounds like an easy answer to what you're feeling, but if I had one thing to change about my college days (and high school, for that matter), I would have been more active.
Oh, and another thing -- do not, do not, do not be afraid to show your intelligence. In college, everyone likes the smart kid in class. Why? Well.....
You never know who might want to study with you.
