# What did going first change for me during introductions?

By [Craig Coffee](/craig-coffee)

I was in a yoga class with a girl I liked a lot. She had invited me, and we were friends at that point. There were about thirty people. The teacher put us in a circle and said we were going to introduce ourselves.

My heart dropped. I knew the thoughts: run, use the bathroom, make up an excuse. But I was sitting next to a girl I liked. I had already beaten a lot of my stutter, and I was still very nervous.

I raised my hand in front of the whole group and said, “I will go first.”

We also had to tell an embarrassing story about ourselves. I did it. When I told this story later, I said I killed it because I relied on [spontaneous speaking](/preparing-without-scripting).

## I was still scared

That is how I wrapped up the account too: I told a killer embarrassing story, but I was still scared. [The nerves](/stuttering-when-nervous) were there.

I would rather volunteer and go first than sit counting how many people were left before my turn. Four more people. Twelve more. I knew that game of counting down and dreading it.

That was the choice in this class. I saw a chance to go first and took it while I was nervous. I didn't want to spend the time [preparing to stutter](/stuttering-anticipation) over my own name.

## Related answers

- [How do I start a conversation when I stutter?](/starting-conversations-when-you-stutter)

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