My first semester of college I took a communications class, which entailed various speeches. Personally, I struggle with speaking in front of my peers. Throughout the class we were given notes on how to actively listen, which is just as vital as speaking. When you are speaking, you want to feel heard. In return, as an audience member, it is important to make the speaker feel heard. To actively listen, one must be willing to turn their attention, their mind, their eyes, their face, towards the speaker. In return, it allows the speaker confidence to feel understood and important. Actively listening involves eye contact and movement, such as nodding or asking following up questions. Our society searches to be understood whether in their opinions, their beliefs, their sexuality, the list goes on. Actively listening allows for the speaker to be empowered and confident that people are not only listening, but understanding and empathizing. While I was giving speeches, I noticed peers nodding and smiling, allowing comfort to know people are listening. Through taking this class, I learned one main reason I was so terrified about talking in front of others was the fear of rejection. I feared my ideas being rejected, my opinions being rejected, my words being rejected, or simply my presence. However, the audience learned how to actively listen, allowing me confidence in my speech. I recognized people cared about my speech, because people want to be treated the same way. Furthermore, actively listening above all, allows speakers to feel confident, understood, and valued.