I was just seventeen years old when I took my place on the stage behind the lectern. I could feel the heat rising in my body, slowly at first, then I was plunged into a hot dunk tank. My heart was pumping out of my chest and I was certain the thump, thump, thump was being amplified through the microphone. Expectations and pressure wrapped around my neck so tight I could hardly breathe. It all happened so fast. I glanced at the sea of peers and parents. They were all staring at me. I insta [...]
