Hey! I’m also 18, and my stutter is really bad. I used to be so ashamed of it that I didn’t even like to acknowledge it. I would just talk, hoping to speak fluently, and if I wasn’t, I’d try to end the conversation quickly and then go cry. I started feeling better the moment I began acknowledging my stutter. That way, the listener would be aware of it and ‘prepare’ for my blocks. It made me feel more at ease than speaking with someone who didn’t know I stutter because when they do know, they’re more likely to give you time to speak instead of looking at you like you’re a weird creature. That’s one of the tips I want to give you—if you acknowledge it, you’ll find it easier not to be ashamed of it. I know it’s easier said than done, but if you really think about it, one way or another, people will find out. Another thing that helped me is listening to other people who stutter. It might sound strange, but I find it motivating to see and hear others talk about overcoming the odds and achieving their goals, even with a stutter. There are a lot of inspiring TED Talks you can watch. I’m also in college, and I take some classes face-to-face and some online. I struggle with the online ones just as much as the in-person ones. The only time it’s easier is when I get to record a video and submit it, but live presentations are awful. Don’t let your speech prevent you from attending classes on campus, you can network, make friends, and gain a once in a lifetime experience. You CAN become a corporate lawyer; don’t ever think you can’t! I was thinking about becoming a military officer after college, but I felt like I couldn’t until I saw a video of a commissioned officer who stuttered horribly. And then I thought, if he can do it, what’s stopping me? So, I really, really believe that watching those videos will be a huge help to your confidence and motivation. Most importantly, always remember that you are worthy, even with disfluent speech. God made you in His image, and He loves you. No matter how harshly the world treats you, you have Jesus Christ as your comforter and helper.