When I was unsure of what classes to take this semester, my advisor recommended that I take public speaking.

At first, I thought nothing of it. I didn't think of what this class would require me to do and I didn't hesitate to add it to my schedule. However, when it came time for my first speech I was SO nervous. I began to ask myself why I even registered for this class in the first place.

Why subject myself to this kind of apprehension?

However, after I successfully completed my first speech, I realized that registering for public speaking was one of the best choices I could have made. I felt like I overcame my fear only a few weeks into the semester.

At my school, arts students are required to take four semesters of a foreign language and give oral presentations in the language of their choice. I am baffled that we are required to present in a foreign language, yet not in English. Since I have experienced the benefits of taking a public speaking class, I believe that a public speaking class should be included among our long list of core requirements. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Develop skills that will be helpful in any field

Maybe you think this doesn't apply to you because you work as a computer programmer or an engineer. In your profession, it may be true that your skills in math in science are more important than your speaking skills. However, no matter what field you choose to go into, whether you like it or not, you're going to have to nail an interview before you get any job. A public speaking course will help you develop the confidence and the writing skills to be able to effectively communicate in an interview.

2. Face your fear

Public speaking is the most common fear in the country--yes, people are more afraid of to speak in public than they are of spiders, sharks, heights and even dying. As Jerry Seinfeld said, the average person would rather be in the casket at a funeral than give the eulogy.

3. You will be happy you took it after graduation

My list of required core classes is really long. Many of these classes, if I am being honest, will never be of use to me in my career. If universities aim to create well-rounded students, they should add a Public Speaking course to their long lists of requirements. Quite honestly, it would be one of the only core classes that would help students develop skills that they would actually use every day after graduation.