13-year-old Himakshi Shastri writes about her journey to becoming a competitive public speaker.

Am I capable of doing this? How can I go up there? Won’t people laugh at me? What if I forget what I have to say?

If you had asked me three years ago about my greatest fear, in my shy, squeaky voice I would have replied, “Public speaking!” I was the type of girl who never had the confidence to express her ideas in front of anyone. I thought that if I shared my opinion with the world, I would be criticised, put down and judged. I was scared about what others would think of me and so I trapped myself in this bubble of fright, keeping myself distant from speaking in public.

Fast forward to February 18, 2016. When I came home from class that day, my mum told me about a storytelling competition at my school. The competition required students to write a tale of their own and then share it with their year. I have always enjoyed writing stories. They give me an opportunity to let my imagination come to life. But at that time, sharing was a problem for me. I would share my chocolates, my toys or even my presents if I had to, but sharing my stories with other people…that was something that I had never, ever pictured myself doing. Although I was incredibly intimidated, my mum explained to me, “Until you try, you don’t know what you can do,” and persuaded me to give the competition a go.

We all have interesting things to say and share, stories that inspire us, experiences that shake us to the core, thoughts that won’t stop buzzing in our heads. And although I was timid, my imagination was bursting with ideas for stories. One story that I was desperate to share was the one of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India. Although Dr. Kalam grew up in a poor community, he knew from a young age that he wanted to do something great for his country. By working hard and facing his fears, he pursued his passion for public service and became the president of India! His story was such an inspiration to me that I wanted it to share it with my peers as well.

I was afraid of public speaking, but talking about something I believed in so thoroughly made me change my whole perspective. I suddenly felt a spark develop inside of me, a little spark of hope. With an hour of practice every day, I knew I could conquer my fear and show the world that I too could become a great speaker.

When the day of the competition arrived, my classmates were astonished to see the same “Himakshi” come up and speak so confidently. Although my heart was beating incredibly quickly, seeing the smiles my speaking could bring to people’s faces was truly magical and gave me a sense of comfort. To this day, it was the best feeling I have ever experienced. I realised that fear is nothing but an illusion. It is something we create in our mind, a wall that we put up for ourselves that stops us from moving forward.

After that competition, I was determined to take part in even more public-speaking events! From being the host of my own radio segment on Pearl 102 FM about saving the environment, making speeches about climate action at the International Schools Debates Camp at the University of Oxford, or even being invited as the youngest author to speak at the Emirates Literature Festival, I am often asked about the key to public speaking. Here are six tips that have helped me become a confident public speaker:

1) Say yes to new opportunities. When I was 9, I never would have thought that I would be able to conquer my fear of public speaking. But eventually, saying “yes” is what led me to find my greatest passion today. You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.

2) Speak about subjects you are passionate about. When public speaking, find a topic that inspires you. If you are genuinely motivated by the theme of your speech, you will find that your words will naturally create a beautiful connection with your audience. For example, I love speaking about gratitude and environmental awareness.

3) Be open to making mistakes. The biggest mistake you can ever make is being afraid not to make one. I have stammered, forgotten my lines and have even given the "overly long speeches" people dread to hear. But it's alright! What matters is that you learn from your mistakes and make your next speech better than the last one.

“When public speaking, find a topic that inspires you. If you are genuinely motivated by the theme of your speech, you will find that your words will naturally create a beautiful connection with your audience.”

— Himakshi Shastri

4) Be positive! If you have a true passion for public speaking, don't let others ruin that for you. There will be many who might try and put you down, but don't take it personally. Stay focused to your goals and ignore any negativity.

5) Keep improving. There are so many extraordinary resources out there so never stop learning. Listening to TED Talks or podcasts helps me learn so many new techniques from more experienced individuals. Here are two TED/TEDx Talks that have helped me find inspiration for my own speeches: “Don't strive to be famous, strive to be talented” by Maisie Williams and “How to speak so that people want to listen” by Julian Treasure.

6) Share your own, original ideas. There is a difference between creating the magic and following its trail. When public speaking, share your own, original ideas. Your audience wants to hear what only you can tell them. That is how you make your greatest impact.

Public speaking plays such a significant role in my life. If I hadn’t conquered my fear, I would have missed out on some of the most rewarding moments of my life. Now, I have a mission for you: do what scares you until it doesn’t. Just like I did, I want you all to face your own fears! I would love it if you would share your stories with me by tagging me on Instagram @aspire2inspire_uae. Failure is just a step in the ladder of success. Failure is not the universe telling you that you can’t do this. It is just the universe telling you that you CAN do this, but not in that way. Find your passion and don’t let fear stop you.

Himakshi Shastri

is a 13-year-old public speaker, student and environmentalist from Dubai. She is the author of the book, “Prized Words,” and hopes to change this world for the better.