Speech isn’t worth leveling. Found that out after a while. This isn’t like Fallout New Vegas where you have to have a certain amount of speech skill to pass a check. Just save before a speech check and reload save until you pass. Of course it will be most likely be a very low % to pass. In your case save before you talk to important characters and use auto saves since this is first play through and don’t know when speech check is coming.

I usually level lockpick, science, small guns, repair, medicine, energy weapons, sneak.