I’ve started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here.
Tell someone about an event in your life that was really meaningful.
I’ve been lucky enough to have a very rich and exciting life. Certainly less eventful than others, but also more full than some. I don’t know I’ve had any amazing experiences, but I have had moments that have touched me and stick with me.
I was always a fairly shy kid. I didn’t do much in groups, hated speaking in front of my class for any presentation, and often interacted with only a couple friends at a time. Quite a change from today when I look back at things.
During high school, I enjoyed music, saw many concerts, and learned to play guitar. Eventually I formed a band with a few friends. Somehow, and I’m not sure how, near the end of my senior year, our band was given the chance to play a couple songs for the school, in the gym. I’d played in front of crowds, always nervous, but since I knew few people, this wasn’t too bad. It was also a few dozen people. I was much more anxious about playing in front of my classmates, over 800 of them.
I did it, and things went well, though this was a punk/alternative style band and I think a few of my teachers were shocked.
I survived, and didn’t have to deal with too many comments as this was just a few days before school ended. However, it was an event that stuck with me, helping me to learn that being in front of people wasn’t the worst thing in the world. This was really the first big event for me, even though I didn’t have to speak.
From here, I went on to be better speaking in front of classes in college, bartending and talking with strangers, and eventually to where I am today, giving presentations in front of small and large crowds on a regular basis.