The Speaker

One  skill I’ve learned throughout my years in the Vessel Operations program would be the development of my public speaking skills. I was very shy and reserved during my earlier years in the Vessel Operations program. Public speaking was not my strong suit, yet time and time again I was placed into situations that took me out of my comfort zone, where I was required to rise to the occasion and speak about my experiences to politicians, potential employers, investors, and kids interested in attending Harbor School in the near future. In the beginning, I used to dread these moments and actively try to avoid them. Still, the more opportunities I got to share and express myself, the more I enjoyed it and even actively put myself in situations where I would be required to speak.

 A time I got to put my public speaking skills on display was over the summer when a few interns and I had the opportunity to meet with House minority leader, Hakeem Jefferies. On this trip, we got to ride with him on one of our boats and had the opportunity to explain what our program is to an important leader within our community. I feel that this experience demonstrates the fact that my skills go way beyond just driving boats and maintaining them. Being in this program has given me the skill and the confidence to talk and approach people in any field or situation, not specifically maritime-related.

By: Anonymous