My Greatest Skill… If I Do Say So Myself

In my closet hangs a purple shirt. “U Talk too Much!” it reads, a gift from kindergarten that emphasizes my lifelong love for talking. From dinner tables to road trips, I constantly felt the need to fill the silence with my voice. I became known as “The Talker” of the family, cracking jokes and debating with my younger siblings. 

But my love for talking was limited to interpersonal conversation. At school, I wouldn’t raise my hand and I was afraid of speaking up. That was until I enrolled in a project-based high school. I was immediately thrown into presentations and had many opportunities to practice speaking publicly. In my first week, I was tasked with a short presentation on Ferdinand Magellan. I was uncomfortable and nervous, spending hours memorizing every word. But as I continued to give weekly presentations, my love of talking extended to strong public speaking skills. By graduation, I gave a valedictorian speech in front of more than 500 fellow students and families. 

I began to notice I had always been a dominant speaker, and I wanted to improve my listening skills to become more well-rounded. In college, I volunteered as a crisis counselor where I texted with distressed strangers. I always thought that vocal speech was the best way to connect with others because I could use body language and intonation to convey my emotions. But through text, I needed to be extra intentional with every word. In a text-based role, I learned to make an impact without ever actually speaking to them. When conversing with people close to suicide, I actively listened, providing support and asking purposeful questions that centered them as the problem solver.

My strengthened conversation skills carried into every facet of my life. In academics, I excelled in presentations and became an active participant in discussions. Professionally, I confidently connected with mentors and built valuable relationships. Working at a fitness center, I excelled at sales and customer support, forming connections with members. Most importantly, I realized my words could travel and influence the lives of those I’ll never meet.