I got to host "Acts Cafe" (an inspirational open mic night filled with poets, singers, instrumentalists, and spoken-word artists) this Friday in the Hale Center. I know the people who put the event on, and my friend just asked me to host one night. It was a fun yet frightening experience since a host has to keep the program moving right along and has to fill in sometimes and stall when things go wrong and ultimately try to make the crowd laugh and stay interested in the show.
I co-hosted "Acts Cafe" with my friend Terry who sat down in the end because he said I was talking too much. So basically I was a solo act since I tried to give good transitions from one act to another and give the audience a little information on who was coming up next. I didn't just want to read the next name off a paper and then sit down, I had to try and make conversation and keep people's attention.

It's neat to hear people say, "Heather, you'll have no problem hosting the show, you're a News anchor!" So that basically means I can never be scared when in actuality, I'm nervous everytime I've been in front of people. I just pray that I will be able to keep my composure and not start shaking. I've always been a quiet person and only come out of my shell when I'm comforatble around certain people or feel it's necessary to be more vocal.

So what's a shy person doing in Broadcast Journalism?
I think I'm representing all the quiet and reserved people all over and serving as an example that you can overcome your fear and stage fright and be fine in front of people. Of course it takes a lot of time and practice to build up confidence, but that's the joy of it. Sometimes you'll be great and comforatble and other times you'll flop and studder and you're face will turn red and you'll want to run in a closet and hide!
I'll have a great testimony to give one day to people who are just like me. It's not always as easy as it looks when you worry about how people will look at you and think about how fantastic and natural others are. I like to surprise myself and just go ahead and do it even if it's totally opposite of my personality! I can't turn down opportunities and shy away from the front because of fear, or I can just kiss news reporting good-bye and go work in someone's mail room.

So when people say, "Heather, you'll have no problem hosting the show, you're a News anchor!"
I just say, "You're right, I will have no problem." And even though I'm marching off with a false confidence, it's at least a step in the right direction.