Very well-written! I could see so much of my own story in yours. Thanks for sharing. > The actual incidence of it is bad enough, but the dread it creates in you is far worse. That is something I've never gotten over. I'm in graduate school, and whenever I hear "Let's go around the room and say your name, etc...", my heart *still* immediately starts beating like crazy. I take deep breaths, tell myself, 'You've done this a hundred times, it's fine!' but I cannot stop that feeling.