Michael Drollinger Email & Phone Number

I remember the moment very clearly as though it were yesterday. It was my freshman year of high school, and I was delivering a rendition of Churchill’s famous speech “We Will Fight on the Beaches” for my school’s public speaking competition. Everything went off without a hitch in the beginning as I presented the speech to the crowd of students sitting below the stage. As I neared Churchill’s call to action, I began stumble and choke on my words. I sputtered through the rest of the speech before I stopped, bowed my head, and slinked off stage. It was a very embarrassing moment for me. At the time, I imagined Churchill was shaking his head at my poor rendition of his rousing battle cry. Later that night, while I lay in bed, I asked myself why I had lost heart in the speech and could not finish strong. Was it because I had lacked the strength and conviction to believe in my ability and to push through?I resolved to work on this aspect of speaking and I practiced for the next three years of high school. I kept making small improvements in my poise and my delivery. I studied recordings of various famous speeches and made note of the pauses and gestures they used. I would often walk to the park in my practice speaking in the open field, imagining that there was a large audience in front of me. When senior year came around, I had crafted my technique to suit my voice and speaking style. As I gave my speech for my final competition, I felt the power and energy radiating from within me unlike anything I had ever felt before. When the results had come in, I found that I had placed second in the competition, after four years of effort. A warm feeling washed over me as I had finally grasped the achievement that I craved for so long. I carry that passion within me now as I continuously strive to improve myself in my education and in the workplace, and most importantly I remember to keep working toward my goals despite any setbacks I face.

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  Student Ambassador

  Goff Strategic Leadership Institute

  North Salt Lake, Ut, Us