During a visit to the United Arab Emirates, I was invited to speak to college students to learn more about how the country is preparing the next generation for the future. I met with students who were required to present their final projects in a three-minute presentation to members of the ruling family. Now, that is pressure. But learning the art of public speaking is no longer an option to succeed in the 21st century; it is fundamental.

Educators who I have met across the Middle East, Europe and Asia say that they are elevating the art of public speaking to a core requirement along with math and science. Chris Anderson, the curator (负责人) of TED, encourages schools in the United States to make “presentation literacy” a requirement in elementary schools. There is a wrinkle, however. According to an article in The Atlantic, some American middle-school and high-school students are advocating for the elimination (取消) of mandatory (强制的) in-class, presentations.

Their anxiety is real. Psychology professor Matthew Lieberman writes in book, “Our brains crave the positive evaluation of others almost to an embarrassing degree.” That’s why most of us get anxious about public speaking. Anxiety can turn into full-blown panic attacks or create lifelong fears.

As an author whose books are used in public speaking classes around the world, I will explain why public speaking skills are more important than ever. Persuasion — one person convincing another to change their mind — is now responsible for 25 percent of Americas total income, according to Deirdre McCloskey at the University of Illinois. The percentage will rise to 40 percent soon, she assured me. It is a terrible idea to reduce public speaking opportunities in class at a time when students need the skills it can give them to succeed. Today anyone who is better at presenting their ideas can see a sudden, massive increase in wealth that is unprecedented in human history.

In the age of ideas, public speaking is one of the greatest skills that students need in order to learn, grow, and inspire the rest of us to dream bigger. If students enjoy the process of building the necessary skill set, they will learn to love public speaking.

For many reasons, I didn’t choose to go to university like most of my family members, schoolmates and even best friends. I can’t say that I didn’t have moments of doubt about my decision. As the last term of school was coming to a close, I began to feel very anxious about the choice I made to be different and start an apprenticeship(学徒).

Although my A-level results day was the one that I felt extremely proud of, I knew that the general feeling from most of my teachers was disappointment. I completed my application, did a series of ability tests and interviews, and at last nine months later—I began an apprenticeship with Sellafield Ltd.

As soon as I started, I knew straight away that I made the right decision. From the people I met, to the on-the-job training that I was experiencing, I began to feel a real sense of purpose and could see a successful career in an industry that I found so interesting and challenging, paving the way in front of me. I never thought when I was in sixth grade that I would be working in the nuclear industry, but now I can’t imagine working anywhere else.

Since finishing my apprenticeship over two years ago, I’ve had countless opportunities to develop myself both academically and personally. I’ve bought my first home; I was chosen to be a part of the Government’s Get In Go Far apprenticeship campaign, and offered an amazing and unique secondment(人员借调) with the Environment, Health, Safety and Quality department at Sellafield.

I have no doubt that without my apprenticeship I wouldn’t be in the position I am today, but equally I know that it was only the beginning for me.

My apprenticeship inspired me to explore different career paths in the nuclear industry, and it gave me the confidence to know that I can succeed in shifting from one position to another.

When my grandmother was raising me in Stamps,Arkansas,she had a particular routine(惯例)when people who were known to be whiners entered her store. My grandmother would ask the customer,“How are you doing today,Thomas？” The person would reply,“Not so good today, Henderson.You see,it’s this summer heat.I just hate it.It just makes me tired.It’s almost killing me.”Then my grandmother would stand calmly,her arms folded,and say,“Uh-huh,uh huh.”

As soon as the complainer was out of the store,my grandmother would call me to stand in front of her.Then she would say the same thing she had said at least a thousand times,it seemed to me.“Jane,did you hear what so-and-so complained about？”And I would nod.Grandmother would continue,“Jane,there are people who went to sleep all over the world last night,poor and rich and black and white,but they will never wake again.Those dead people would give anything,anything at all for just five minutes of this weather that person was complaining about.So you watch yourself about complaining,Jane.What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it.If you can’t change it,change the way you think about it.Don’t complain.”

I have learned a lot from my grandmother.Her opinions always hit the nail on the head.Whining is not only impolite, but can be dangerous.