Campfire Talk by Berit Berggren

June 26, 2025

Hi everyone! My name is Berit Berggren. I’m a first-year staff here at camp. I go to Florida State University, and I’m also a proud member of Fun Squad here at camp.

To start things off tonight, I’d like a few of you to raise your hand and try and guess what one of my biggest fears is.

Those are all really great guesses! But the real answer might surprise you. My biggest fear has actually always been public speaking. I know it might be hard to believe when I’m usually shouting during games here at camp. But standing up and talking in front of people used to absolutely terrify me. Ever since I was little, I’ve been super nervous about saying the wrong thing, sounding weird, or just totally freezing. There were nights before even the smallest presentation where I’d stay up feeling sick to my stomach, just replaying everything that could go wrong in my head. And when people told me things like “It’s not a big deal” and “You’ll be fine” I felt invalidated and like there was something wrong with me for being so nervous.

When I was in 7^th grade, I had to give a presentation on “the Giver” by Lois Lowry. I was so nervous that it felt like my body wouldn’t cooperate with my mind. I ended up crying in front of my entire class, and I’m pretty sure I scared Mrs. Eide for life.

As I got older and gained confidence in other parts of life, like sports, friendships, academics, I hoped that this fear would fade, but it didn’t.

No matter how much I prepared, overanalyzed, and tried to hype myself up, the moment I stood up in front of people, my palms would sweat, my voice would shake, and I’d feel even less prepared than before.

I reached a point of total frustration, and I started avoiding situations where I’d have to speak up or stand out. I searched for loopholes, excuses, or anything to dodge what scared me.

During high school I ran cross country. My junior year I was named team captain for the following season. I should have felt proud, strong, and ready to lead, but instead the first thing I felt was doubt.

I thought, “How can I be a good leader when I’m constantly so unsure of myself?”

It was in that moment that I realized something really important. The one thing missing from my mindset wasn’t more preparation or confidence, it was faith.

I had let my fear speak louder than this truth. There were moments where I doubted my faith. I questioned why I would be so afraid of this when other people seemed to be so much more capable than I was. I had been so focused on messing up that I forgot I was created perfectly. There is a plan for me, one that included my voice, my leadership, and even my fear.

Putting full trust in this isn’t easy. Fear is powerful. Believe me, I’ve felt it over and over again. But what’s even more powerful is the reminder that we are never alone in our fear. Even our fears can be used for something good.

When we let our faith shine through us, our voices become more than just sound. Our words become tools for love, encouragement, healing, and truth.

You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to make a difference. And you certainly don’t have to be fearless to speak up.

You just have to be faithful. Some of the most powerful voices are the ones that speak with kindness. Maybe you’ve helped a friend through a tough time, made friends with a stranger, or prayed for or sent good wishes to someone else. That is using your voice.

We each have a voice, not just to speak, but to stand up for others, to hope, to sing, to comfort, to lead, and to love.

When we choose to use that voice for good, even if it is trembling or quiet, we are stepping into our calling.