Building Confidence Through Action

Confidence is not just about projecting your voice and standing up straight. It's about being able to fully believe that what you do, say and how you act matter.  For many of us, confidence is cultivated throughout our lives. Whether that's through extracurriculars, sports, or school. Regardless of how you strengthen your confidence, it's safe to say that confidence can not only change you but also change everyone around you.

One excellent example is public speaking. Presenting in front of a large group of people initially seems like an impossible task. Your palms start to perspire, your heart is pounding, and you consider every scenario that could go wrong. But confidence takes root the moment you persevere. Every time you speak, whether it's at a student council meeting, debate tournament, or local gathering, you learn how to hold people's attention and express your viewpoint. Speaking in front of an audience develops courage as well as voice.

Confidence manifests itself differently in speech and debate. Sometimes the competitor is the one who gains the ability to clearly defend her beliefs. At other times, the shy student surprises himself by enjoying the argument. Winning trophies isn't always a sign of debate success. It frequently entails realizing that, despite criticism, your voice matters. The biggest fallacy regarding debating is that it's about battling to be "right." In actuality, it comes down to listening, reacting, and overcoming differences—skills that self-assured leaders employ on a daily basis.

Confidence is also necessary for activism. Standing up for a cause when others might reject it requires guts. However, history demonstrates that people who dared to think they could have an impact are the ones who bring about change. Take Malala Yousafzai for example. Yousafzai grew up in Pakistan under Taliban rule, where girls were banned from education. Yet she bravely blogged for the BBC about these injustices. She was shot in the head at age 15 for speaking out. Surviving the attack, she transformed her personal tragedy into a global movement for equality, inspiring me to face challenges with resilience and determination.  Confidence has propelled campaigns much like Yousafzai’s for women's political representation, educational equality, and the development of diverse, inclusive communities, from hometown advocates to global leaders. Those who can lead with confidence—not for their own sake, but for others—are true role models.

Anybody's confidence can be put to the test when juggling extracurricular activities and academics. It's simple to feel overburdened when balancing volunteer work, debate preparation, and exams. However, resilience is taught by this balancing act. Realizing that you can learn, adjust, and keep going forward is what builds confidence, not doing everything flawlessly.

A crucial part of this journey is mentoring. Your confidence can be boosted by a coach who challenges you beyond your comfort zone, a peer who encourages you, or a teacher who has confidence in you. They serve as a reminder that failure is a necessary part of the journey and not the antithesis of success. As a result, self-assured students frequently go on to mentor others, demonstrating to others that confidence is infectious.

In the end, confidence is a practice rather than an isolated accomplishment. It results from living up to your principles, taking advice from others, and having the courage to speak up even if your voice is tremulous. Being confident means overcoming fear rather than being fearless. And once you do, the environment around you changes along with you.