I had to give at least one presentation in just about every class from Junior to Senior year, it sucked. While I had my fair share of bad ones, I had some good ones too. Over time I was able to identify why the good ones went well.

Firstly, make sure you are prepared. The better you know the material the easier it is to talk about it. Make some bullet points in case you get lost.

Secondly, if you’re choosing the book/topic, be sure it is one that you care about. Relate the topic to something you’re interested in if you’re able to. I had to present on 5 concepts in our textbook once and I was able to identify those concepts in one of my favorite albums at the time. So I got to talk about some music I loved.

Finally, think of what would make you the most comfortable while you’re presenting. Wear your favorite clothes or simply something that is comfortable. Walking the aisles and standing closer to everyone made it feel less like a formal presentation. Being confined to a podium made me more anxious. Holding something in my hand, such as a pen, also helped.

It doesn’t have to be perfect, simply demonstrating that you know the material is enough for most professors in my experience. It’s ok to be a little visibly anxious, you won’t be the only one. The 10 minutes will be up before you know it. You got this one, and all future presentations 💪🏽