public speaking

What is up. Ok so I'm taking a public speaking class this summer. Our first assignment was to write a speech. I thought I would post it. Basically I wanted to post, but didn't have anything particular to talk about today. So here is my self-introductory speech:

Have you ever heard the quote “If it doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger?” I think this is an accurate summary of my life over the past few years. I suffer from chronic migraines. Pain is something I deal with on a daily basis. Because of these migraines, my life has been radically changed. Today I want to share with you two specific ways that migraines have changed my life.

To begin with, my migraines have changed my lifestyle. I’ve had migraines all my life, but they became severe my first year of college. I had to drop out of school my second year because the migraines were so debilitating. I ended up going to one of the top migraine clinics in the country that year. At this clinic, which was in Michigan, I was told that I must have structure and stability. This was the best way to fight chronic pain. I had to get the proper amount of sleep, eat the right foods at the right time, take my medicines at the right time, and learn how to avoid any possible migraine triggers. Once I got home, this was very hard to stick to. College lifestyle seemed to be the exact opposite of what I needed. Because I stuck to this healthy regimen, I had to sacrifice many opportunities to spend time with my friends. I also had to stop dancing, which was something that I loved to do. I’ve had to deal with weight gain and depression. These two things often come hand in hand with medications and chronic pain. I eventually felt that I had become a completely different person.

Secondly, my migraines have changed my faith. I grew up going to a Christian church and school. When I became so sick, I really had to look at what I believed and why I believed it. I wondered why I should continue to live my life for Christ when he was allowing all this pain. I eventually chose to believe that there is purpose in my suffering. I have to cling to this truth; it is sometimes the thing that gets me through the day. I have also learned about humility and perseverance. I have realized the world does not revolve around me, but rather that I am a tiny piece of the bigger picture. Perseverance is essential when dealing with chronic pain. You have to learn to push through the really hard times, even when you don’t want to.

To conclude, I have shared with you two changes I have experienced. Both of these changes are results of dealing with chronic migraines over the past few years. These migraines have changed my lifestyle, and they have also changed my faith. “If it doesn’t kill you, it makes you stronger.” Each day that I face, I choose to believe that this whole experience really is making me a stronger person.