Something else to bear in mind when delivering lectures or publicly speaking for whatever reason, is not to make too many notes. The more you read from your notes, the more you will have to. It is better, generally, to make bullet points so that you have to use your brain to answer questions fired at you rather than try to seek an answer from notes.

Obviously, this varies from person to person. Some prefer to make minimal notes; some prefer more. But from experience, I find it better to go in just with a few points, and force my brain to work.

Lettuce makes a good point about the anticipation of an event causing more anxiety than the event itself in some cases. Apart from reminding yourself that worrying makes no difference to the outcome, and as long as you're prepared, keeping yourself busy right up to the point of performance does help. Playing sport, for example, can benefit the mind and body in such a way that anxiety is relieved to quite an extent in a lot of cases. It might also leave some endorphins lying around for you by the time you perform, and leave various other vital parameters in top condition.

Regarding exercise, there's an interesting book on it. It sounds stupid, but a lot (even if not all) the author's opinions are backed by references to specific studies. I haven't read the whole thing, but I did read a bit before I returned it to the library, and it might be worth checking out. "Conquering Depression and Anxiety Through Exercise" by Keith Joshsgard. To sum it up, exercise can improve both state and trait anxiety, and the mechanisms include--but go way beyond--simple endorphins.

Here's a relatively short page on exercise and its effects on the brain, but more specific to mood disorders (mentions how it's been as effective as Zoloft in one study): Exercise and Mood: not the usual rap (It really isn't the usual rap!)

I can say from experience that I felt fantastic when I was at the peak of my physical fitness, and pretty miserable when unable to exercise. This has happened so many times to me that coincidence can safely be ruled out.

There is the sense of achievement when you have set a personal best. There is the competitiveness, whether it's against yourself or an opponent, which is healthy and applies to real life all too often. There is teamwork and a sense or worth in team sports.

There is the change in the way you look, and are able to physically do things you couldn't before, or things that others can't.

You guys are really great! I do not have a speech for a few weeks so i have much time to prepare. I just wanted to thank each of you on your discussion, it really brings comfort that I am not the only one who understand what I am going through. I have always had trouble with anxiety in the class room, whether it be up in front or just sitting in the class. Most of this has subsided through my years of college, but i still have this one thing to conquer.

I have a feeling it all stems from the way a particular teacher treated me in 1st grade. when i first told my mom about my anxiety in class she told me how my teacher ridiculed me in front of class every time i read aloud when i was in first grade, i was not a great reader and she was a complete [censored]. My mom went to the principle and made a whole ordeal. This is one of the reasons why my family moved from california to where i live currently.

I really think a lot of these things have to do with childhood experience.

But once again, thank you for all of your discussion, and i welcome any more input.

I think your doctor is trying to give you very good advice regarding the use of benzodiazepine meds to deal with situational anxiety about your college classes and "public" speaking.
You have hopefully a long life in front of you and using these drugs now to confront situations that will very likely continue to be a part of your adult real world experiences can be a very slippery slope.
It might not seem possible to you currently but using addictive benzos "occasionally" somehow easily becomes "weekly" and "nightly" and on and on.
These medications were developed to address serious, debilitating anxiety and panic disorders. Their use has, however, devolved into often problematic band-aids for all sorts of perceived conditions that actually should be dealt with on a causal level rather than just continuing to mask the symptoms.
If I were you, I'd listen to your doctor.