I never thought I’d see the day when my daughter, who once hid behind me at birthday parties, would walk up to a microphone, speak clearly, and own the stage — all in front of our entire extended family.

And yet, six weeks into her PlanetSpark journey, that’s exactly what happened.

The Struggle With Shyness

My daughter, Rhea, has always been reserved. While other kids sang, danced, or hosted during school functions, Rhea preferred to stay in the background. She’s expressive at home — storytelling, acting, mimicking — but the moment an audience was involved, she’d freeze.

I wanted to help her break out of that shell. A friend recommended PlanetSpark, and though I was unsure about online sessions for such a personal skill, we gave it a shot.

The First Class: A New Kind of Learning

The coach began by asking Rhea to describe her favorite dessert. Within minutes, they were laughing over a story about a talking cupcake. No pressure. Just fun, gentle nudges.

That first session ended with Rhea saying, “Can I do this again tomorrow?”

Week-by-Week Growth

• Week 1-2: Focused on speaking about daily life — weekend stories, favorite things, pretend games.

• Week 3-4: Introduced speech techniques — pauses, pitch, posture. She practiced with short poems and monologues.

• Week 5: Role-plays and mock hosting activities. Rhea hosted a “pretend” talent show during class.

• Week 6: The big leap — a mini speech for her cousin’s engagement party. She spoke for 90 seconds. No script. No fear.

What PlanetSpark Did Differently

• The coach built trust first, then skills.

• Lessons were playful, yet structured.

• Feedback was positive and motivating, never critical.

Our Family Was Shocked

At the function, when Rhea took the mic, there was silence. And then applause. Her grandparents had tears in their eyes. Her cousins asked if she took drama lessons.

She simply said, “No. I take PlanetSpark classes.”

Parent Insights

What stood out most for me as a parent was the regular feedback I received — not just about what Rhea said, but how she said it. Was she smiling? Was she pausing? Was she breathing correctly?

I was looped in without hovering.

The Aftermath

After the party, Rhea wanted to “host” our Sunday brunch. She introduced everyone, made announcements, and even gave a thank-you speech. It became a new norm — confidence was no longer a performance. It was her personality.

Final Verdict

PlanetSpark didn’t just prepare Rhea for public speaking. It gave her the tools to enjoy expression, embrace the spotlight, and most importantly — believe in herself.

And all it took was six weeks.