Have you ever spoken in front of a large group.

[Warrigal]

I have no trouble speaking in public and I give credit to my fifth grade teacher who encouraged us, nay insisted upon, us getting up and expressing our thoughts in front of the class. Once we found our voices there was no shutting us up again, as our high school teachers discovered later. Thank you, Mr McPhee.

 

[Getyoung]

I used to just hate it when I first started out working. Then as I progressed into a management position and that position being very political, I was forced into nearly daily speaking in front of groups of all sizes and types, once in while with hecklers.
Just like anything else, after doing it so often you get very used to it and I found I could talk pretty much anytime to any group. Now as others here have stated, now that I am retired I am asked to speak at wedding and funerals, those I don't quite like so much!