Hello. I’m now in my 50s and I’ve had a stutter since the age of 7. School was very tough, like you, there were so many times where I knew the correct answer but did not raise my hand to give the answer because I knew the words I needed to say were words or letters that I especially struggled with. The thought of reading out loud or having to do school presentations worried me to no end. It took me into my adulthood to get to a place of acceptance within myself. I wish I had come to the same realization when I was a student. I realize that most likely I’m going to stutter. And once I was able to see this as not the immense problem as I had always seen it to be, it became less problematic for me. For me, the majority of the fear was “ omg what if I stutter”. I’d get so stressed out and panicked by that thought alone. I know it’s incredibly difficult, but just try to be spontaneous whenever the situation allows for it. I used to be so hard on myself about it. You deserve to be heard. Before you start to speak, silently ( to yourself) hum right before you say what you want to say. I find it unblocks me and gets the flow going for whatever I want to say. Try not to get too much out with one breath. Go slow. Believe me, I know how difficult being a stutter is. Be kind to yourself. I know how it is. We worry what others will say or if they will laugh. The main thing is that you know no matter what, you have good things to say. Take your time, and remember, don’t try to get too many words out with one breath.