Last year, my parents decided to sign me up for the September Holiday Camp at Speech Academy Asia, and to be honest, I wasn’t exactly thrilled at first. I mean, spending my holidays at a public speaking camp didn’t sound like the most exciting thing. But since they’d already signed me up, I figured I might as well give it a shot. Looking back, I’m really glad they made that decision because the camp ended up being way better than I expected.

When I arrived on the first day, I felt pretty nervous. I wasn’t sure what to expect and didn’t know anyone else there. But the trainers were super friendly and welcoming, which made me feel a lot more comfortable. They weren’t just strict teachers—they actually wanted to help us become more confident and better at speaking. They made everything feel less like school and more like a fun place to learn new things.

One of the things that really stood out to me was the B.E.S.T methodology, which focuses on Body Language, Eye Contact, Sentence Structure, and Tonality. Before the camp, I had no idea how much these things mattered in communication. We did a bunch of activities that helped us practice these skills, and it was actually pretty fun. I learned how to use my body language to look more confident, how to make eye contact to keep people’s attention, and how to speak in a way that makes people want to listen. It wasn’t just about speaking in front of a crowd—it was about becoming better at communicating in general.

One of the coolest parts of the camp was the outdoor confidence-building activities. At first, the idea of speaking to strangers was terrifying. I was like, “Wait, you want me to go out there and talk to random people?” But after the first few tries, it started to get easier. The more I did it, the more I realized that speaking confidently isn’t as scary as it seems. By the end of the camp, I wasn’t just able to speak confidently—I actually started to enjoy it.

Another thing that was super helpful was the focus on managing emotions. The trainers taught us how to stay calm and think clearly even when we’re nervous or stressed. This wasn’t just useful for public speaking, but also for school presentations and even everyday conversations where I’d usually feel shy. It made me feel more in control of my emotions, and that boosted my confidence a lot.

And then there were the other campers. We all came from different schools and had different reasons for being there, but we quickly became friends. We were all in it together, cheering each other on and helping each other out. It felt good to be in a group where everyone was supportive and positive. I made some great friends, and we’re still in touch even now.

Now that the September holidays are coming up again, I’m actually excited to go back. There’s still so much more to learn, and I can’t wait to see how much more I can improve. If your parents are thinking about signing you up, or even if you’re not sure about going, I’d say definitely give it a try. Whether you’re looking to boost your confidence, improve your speaking skills, or just try something new, this camp is totally worth it. It’s not just about becoming a better speaker—it’s about becoming a more confident and capable person overall. Trust me, you won’t regret it!