Week 9 blog - make up

I remember a time when I was delivering a speech to a group of about 5,000 teens at the Peace Center. I had my speech well-written out but I knew it so well that I decided to leave the papers behind. I began my speech and at the end of it, I decided to give a few pointers on some research that I had done. I began talking about the study and my mind wen completel blank so the thought was incomplete. I walked off stage and felt like I had done the worst speech ever. I kept thinking, only had I said my speech and went on about my business. A friend of mine who is a retired senior writer from the New York Times told me "Derrick, make sure you have notes on hand" but me being the stubborn person I was, I decided against that. I got beackstage and everything I wanted to say came back so clear and I began to beat myself mentally because I couldn't believe I had went blank like that. If I could go back to that day, I would certainly have brought out the notes with me. I would have studied the research more and I would be 110% sure of what I'm saying. Or perhaps I would have note cards with notes and key pointers on it but at any rate, I would know my stuff. I emailed Ms. Williams and had to tell her the truth. I told her that my speech went very well but my ending was screwed and she called me just to say "Derrick, didn't I tell you to have notes on hand?" A few months later, I was asked to speak at a black history ceremony at Travelers Rest High School and I knew my speech front and back but I took the advice of my good friend, Ms. Williams, so now I'm always with notes.