From Fear to Fame

By Vyona Adhiambo Onyango -


Overcoming My Fear of Public Speaking

    By Vyona Adhiambo Onyango,

Public speaking was once my greatest fear. The thought of standing in front of an audience, with all eyes on me, made my heart race and my hands tremble. I would avoid speaking opportunities, convinced that my voice wasn’t strong enough to be heard. However, through determination and practice, I turned my fear into confidence. Today, I embrace the stage, share impactful stories, and connect with audiences. This is my journey from fear to fame.


Struggles and Self-Doubt


As a child, I admired journalists and public speakers, fascinated by their ability to command attention. Deep inside, I wished to be like them, but whenever I had to speak in front of people, fear took control. I avoided class presentations, stayed quiet in discussions, and turned down opportunities that could have helped me grow.


One of my most embarrassing moments was when I had to read an announcement in school. My voice cracked, and laughter filled the room. That experience stayed with me, reinforcing my fear of speaking in public.


Deciding to Change


I eventually realized that my fear was holding me back from my dreams. I wanted to be a journalist and a storyteller, but how could I succeed if I was afraid to speak? That was when I decided to take control.


I started small—practicing in front of a mirror, recording myself, and analyzing my voice. At first, it felt awkward, but over time, I noticed improvements. I studied great speakers, observing their techniques, tone, and body language. The real challenge came when I forced myself to speak in front of a small group. My heart pounded, but I pushed through. Each attempt boosted my confidence.


Breaking Barriers and Finding My Voice


The more I practiced, the more comfortable I became. Hosting my podcast, Veezy, gave me a platform where I could speak without the pressure of a live audience. This experience allowed me to refine my voice and build confidence. Then came a bigger moment—my first TV appearance. Nervous but determined, I took the stage, and when the cameras rolled, I focused on the message rather than my fear. That was the moment I knew I had grown.


From Fear to Confidence


Today, I confidently speak on different platforms, host discussions, and tell meaningful stories. I have learned that fear never completely disappears—it simply transforms into something we can control. The key is to face it head-on and keep pushing forward.


Lessons from My Journey


1. Fear is natural, but it doesn’t have to control you.


2. Practice builds confidence—start small and improve gradually.


3. Your voice matters, and the world needs your story.


4. Every challenge is a step toward growth.



Overcoming my fear of public speaking was not easy, but it was worth it. If I can do it, so can you. Fear is just an obstacle standing between you and your dreams—face it, challenge it, and turn it into your strength.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Beyond the Scan: Dr. Harish Nagaraj’s Mission to Make Advanced Cancer Care a Reality for Africa

By Vyona Adhiambo Onyango -
Image
F rom a humble background to the forefront of Nuclear Medicine and theragnostic in Kenya, Dr. Harish Nagaraj is helping build a future where advanced cancer diagnosis and targeted treatment are closer to the patients who need them most. There are some moments in medicine that cannot be measured by a laboratory result alone. A number can show that a disease is responding. An image can show that a tumor is shrinking. A scan can reveal what the human eye cannot see. But sometimes, the most powerful measure of medical impact is much simpler. It is seeing someone walk again. For Dr. Harish Nagaraj , one such moment came after a patient with advanced metastatic prostate cancer underwent Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital ( KUTRRH ). The patient arrived at the hospital in a wheelchair, carrying the physical burden of advanced cancer and, perhaps just as painfully, the uncertainty of what would come next. Then came treatment...
Read more

A Story Too Heavy For the Dark

By Vyona Adhiambo Onyango -
Image
  When Home Isn’t Safe: How Drug Abuse Tears Families Apart By Vyona Adhiambo Onyango , I’ve carried this story for so long that sometimes it feels like it’s carved into my bones. A story about a father who was both a shelter and a storm. A man who could fill a room with laughter one moment and empty it of hope the next. A man whose love was real, but whose demons were louder. People imagine that broken homes announce themselves loudly with shouting, slammed doors, shattered glass. But the truth is quieter. Homes don’t always break with noise. Sometimes they break in the silence between footsteps. In the way a child holds their breath. In the way a mother’s eyes dim even when she’s smiling. I grew up with this story long before I understood it. Long before I knew what addiction was. Long before I knew that love could be both a blessing and a wound. Children Who Grow Up in Unstable Homes There’s a kind of childhood that doesn’t look like childhood at all. You learn to read danger ...
Read more

From Lived Experience to Lasting Impact: How Carson Anekeya Is Redefining Health Journalism Through the Power of Storytelling

By Vyona Adhiambo Onyango -
Image
F rom navigating personal struggles with mental health to becoming an emerging voice in health journalism , Carson Anekeya is proving that stories are more than words on a page they are powerful tools that can challenge stigma, inspire hope, and create meaningful change. Some stories begin with success. Others begin with struggle. For Carson Anekeya , his story began with a question that many people silently ask themselves during difficult seasons of life: "How can I use what I already have to make a difference?" At the time, he did not have a large platform. He did not have years of experience behind him. He was not yet the health journalist, communications specialist, and mental health advocate many people know today. He was simply a university student trying to navigate life, understand his own experiences, and find meaning in the challenges surrounding him. But within those uncertain moments was the beginning of something much bigger. A journey that would tran...
Read more