For all you tech people out there, I apologize. I am a talking girl through and through. Although I do understand the importance of using technology to create and connect, I still think the most important skill people can have is to be able to speak.

I know so many people who have issues speaking to other people. My little brother for example, cannot speak to a stranger if his life depended on it. He can't even pick up the phone to call for a pizza (that's become my job). However, the 15 year old can defrag a modem in record time. How much is that going to help him in later life though? Without speech, people will have issues partaking in interviews, buisness proposals, even presentations at school. I find that the ability to not only speak well but be comfortable with it is not only a rare commodity in this technological world, but it is also rapidly dwindling. In highschools (I have seen this first hand) kids sit in class with their phones on their laps texting their friends. So you say, what's wrong with communicating with friends? Friends are good. Yes, but these kids are choosing to spend their time talking to these friends in completely monotone text when they are going to see them in the next half an hour anyway! And whats more is that they are not paying attention to more important matters such as their schoolwork.

Now everybody with the ability to speak to strangers without breaking a sweat knows that once in a while we are told that we talk too much. But I ask these anti-talkers, is that really so bad? Ask yourself that question when the girl who you thought talked too much gets a job over you because she aced her job interview and you sweat patches through your shirt.

Good Luck Fellow Speakers!