From Nervous Speakers to Confident Campus Leaders

Some students don’t just participate; they command the room. They speak up in class, lead projects, and turn small conversations into real opportunities. That kind of presence can look effortless from the outside, but we’ve learned it’s built through practice, feedback, and the courage to start before you feel ready.We sit down with two standout college Toastmasters, Nicholas Duarte and Victoria Smajlaj, to talk about what it actually takes to find your voice and use it to open doors. Nicholas shares how communication skills help him connect with professors, earn referrals, and place in a college-wide speech competition with a story-driven talk on the bystander effect. Victoria breaks down how she moved from fearing the camera to stepping into broadcast journalism, using Toastmasters to build confidence, cut filler words, and get comfortable with on-the-spot banter.Along the way, we dig into the Toastmasters meeting elements that matter most for real life, especially Table Topics for impromptu speaking, networking, and interviews. You’ll hear why “confidence is a skill” is more than a slogan, how to stop overthinking long enough to say hello, and what small habits can help students, young adults, and even parents support faster growth in communication, public speaking, and leadership.If you want practical public speaking tips, stronger networking skills, and a clearer path to sounding like yourself in any room, you’ll get it here. Subscribe to Toasty Talks, share this with a student who needs a boost, and leave a review with the one speaking situation you want to feel confident in next.Victoria Smajlaj: LinkedIn Page | The GW Hatchet Nicholas Duarte: LinkedIn PageDistrict 36 Conference:  Register HereFollow & Like Us:  LinkedIn | X (Formerly Twitter) | Facebook | YouTube | EventBrite | MeetUp | PodcastNurture - Take a TLI Course | Sign-Up for Workshops Grow  - Meet Your Community through Our Newsletter Inspire - Use Your Voice via Pathways