The final five classes of the last course you have to take to get a degree in Literature from my undergraduate were devoted to the presentation of the thesis that you wrote during that course. The course was on Narratology and taught by one of my favorite professors, and I went first because I knew that it would only be worse if I wasnt the first up there. And it was a decent presentation; I probably shouldve prepared a little better, as I umm-ed a few times, but overall I think I started us off on the right foot. Started with the story of the time two friends and I brought down the house at the cranberry festival with our rap rendition of Edgar Allen Poes The Raven, and then segued right into a narratological examination of Kurt Vonneguts Slaughterhouse Five.
Though there were many presentations (a class of nearly thirty), one sticks out in my mind. Susanne. A very attractive girl; six-two, long brown hair, a sarcastic wit; and fiendishly paralyzed by stage fright. She absolutely didnt want to give her presentation. Couldnt bear to do it. But if she didnt, shed faila policy that I see the merit of, but in certain circumstances feel should be bent. Anyway, so, she gives her presentation, and its probably the worst presentation given because shes on the verge of crying throughout the entire thing, and shes not even doing anything other than reading her thesis to us, but she gets through that just fine. Its the question part in which she broke down. Lets just say that it wasnt pretty and leave it at that.
The presentations at the end of last night's class actually went very well. No one broke down; there was a comfortableness about the whole thing.
Still, every time someone went up, I tensed up and waited for the tears.
Though there were many presentations (a class of nearly thirty), one sticks out in my mind. Susanne. A very attractive girl; six-two, long brown hair, a sarcastic wit; and fiendishly paralyzed by stage fright. She absolutely didnt want to give her presentation. Couldnt bear to do it. But if she didnt, shed faila policy that I see the merit of, but in certain circumstances feel should be bent. Anyway, so, she gives her presentation, and its probably the worst presentation given because shes on the verge of crying throughout the entire thing, and shes not even doing anything other than reading her thesis to us, but she gets through that just fine. Its the question part in which she broke down. Lets just say that it wasnt pretty and leave it at that.
The presentations at the end of last night's class actually went very well. No one broke down; there was a comfortableness about the whole thing.
Still, every time someone went up, I tensed up and waited for the tears.
VIEW 10 of 10 COMMENTS
gigglefuckbunny:
ah I hate getting infront of the class. . . I get nervous and well at times been know in the past to studder just a little. Usally its just in the begining of the presentation and then the rest is a cake walk. I never seen anyone cry before infront of the class. . . I have seen ppl go completly blank tho about a subject they know like the back of there hand. Ive done it numerous times. I just stand blank and thinking "OMG I am so screwed! " These days I found a way to deal. I get the class attention by babbling for 2 minutes about something that has nothing to do with the topic. . . usally something just off the wall that makes ppl then wonder if I am all there really I am just nervous as hell.
gotham2:
i had a similar experience, not me, but this kid in my class, when we had to read our short fiction to each other. it's so hard to watch them. he just fumbled and mumbled and you could really tell he was terrified. i feel for him. your presentation sounds interesting.