I never imagined myself standing as a speaker at national and international seminars or conferences.
Being naturally introverted and not bold in public speaking, I preferred solitude.
However, my career as a Lecturer demanded a significant shift from this reclusive nature.
The profession of teaching inherently involves speaking out, yet teaching students differs vastly from addressing an assembly of professionals and scholars.
A Turning Point in 1987
The year 1987 marked a crucial turning point for me. Following my Master’s degree in 1986, I developed a deep interest in ISDN technology, humorously referred to as “I Still Don’t kNow,” but actually standing for Integrated Services Digital Network.
This emerging technology aimed to transition from analog to digital, especially in internet applications, boasting speeds up to 64 kb/s.
My engagement with ISDN became the gateway to my foray into public seminars.
Milestone Presentations
My public speaking journey took a significant leap on August 17, 1987, when I presented at MNCC’87 in Kuala Lumpur.
My paper was titled “ISDN – The Needs for a Transition in Malaysian Telecommunications Network.”
This was followed by another key presentation on October 12, 1987, titled “ISDN – Prospects and Challenges for Malaysia” at the National Conference on Networking and Data Communications in National Development, held at PWTC, Kuala Lumpur.
Overcoming Nervousness
Facing nearly a thousand attendees at the PWTC hall was a daunting experience.
Despite the air conditioning, I felt overwhelmed by nerves, barely noticing the physical discomfort.
As a UTM Lecturer discussing a highly pertinent topic in telecommunications, all attention was on me.
The initial moments of my speech were the most challenging, as I felt engulfed in nervousness, almost oblivious to my audience.
Reflection and Persistence
Despite receiving some positive feedback, those presentations remain the most nerve-wracking experiences of my life.
Years have passed, filled with numerous other presentations, yet the underlying anxiety persists.
The strategies I’ve developed to cope with this nervousness, though, are stories for another time.
Dr. Mazlan Abbas 