I used to be terrified of public speaking. In grammar school I was the child who hated "show and tell", or any sort of assignment that required me to stand up in front of the class and be heard.
And in high school I went through phases of horrible body dysmorphia. I was convinced that I had a terribly ugly face which, not surprisingly, caused me intense anxiety and insecurity. It also led to me to cutting off all the faces from my high school pictures. To this day, I have only a handful--if that--of pictures of myself as a teenager.
Back then, when I envisioned my career I knew it would involve helping people. I always had a longing to serve, and I often fantasized of being a pediatrician or a teacher that traveled the world helping children in need.
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