Hands sticky from the accumulating sweat, eyes darting back and forth, taking in the competition, legs shaking with nervousness and faces wet with perspiration.

Each name called was one step closer to the end of the competition, one step closer to the names of the winners being announced.

Competing in the second annual Bluejay Elevator Business Pitch Competition on April 5, is something I will never forget.

This competition gives Creighton students the opportunity to come up with their own business ideas to present to judges with the hopes of winning prizes along with the possibility of making their ideas a reality.

Writing a story on this competition and interviewing a past participant and Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization club officers, along with a faculty adviser, piqued my interest. Early last week, I decided to participate. Next came the fun and challenging part: coming up with a business plan.

Those nervous moments at the competition were nothing compared to the most difficult part of the competition: coming up with an idea that will impress the judges, that you are passionate about and that you would buy. This may not look hard, but I realized that it’s not as easy as it may seem.

I began thinking, but nothing good came to mind, nothing that could win. As I was ready to throw in the towel, my business plan came to me – I knew what I wanted to do.

Brainstorming my idea came next. How much money would I need? Who would be my target market? What would set my product apart from competitors?

My business plan would be a computer software program made for journalists. Journalists could type their stories into a program that would not only correct spelling and grammar, but also correct rules listed in the Associated Press Stylebook, used in newsrooms and by writers, students and editors.

I heeded the advice from Dr. Anne York, associate professor of entrepreneurship and director of Creighton Entrepreneurial programs, and I spent most of Friday and Saturday morning practicing my pitch.

Arriving at the competition in Hixson-Lied 404, my stomach tangled in knots as I walked into the theater-style classroom.

Students dressed in business suits milled around the room, ready for their chance to compete for one of the three prizes – $500, $250 and $100. Catching my eye at the front of the room were huge replicas of these prizes in the form of three large checks.

I was ninth to go before the crowd and the judges. The rules were announced and it was emphasized that the 60-second time limit would be strictly enforced, because even an extra five seconds give someone an advantage.

The nerves started rising within me as the first competitor gave his 60-second business plan. Between competitors, while the judges were writing down their final comments, my speech ran through my head.

As I heard other students’ business plans, doubts began to cross my mind. Should I add more information? Did I explain my product thoroughly enough?

I knew, though, it was too late to change anything. With only a minute to convince the judges that my product was worth investing in, I had no time to change anything, especially with a memorized speech.

My name was called. It came too quickly. One last look at my speech, and I was up, moving to the front of the room, in front of three, as they seemed at the time, intimidating judges.

I began to speak and my time started. Sixty seconds were over before I knew it. I felt as if my voice shook throughout my entire speech, but thankfully, I did not forget anything.

My heartbeat slowed and my breathing went back to a normal rate as I took my seat.

Pressure started wearing on all the competitors.

Some forgot what they were talking about and completely blanked out. Some had to have a redo, and after having the chance at one redo, were able to make up for the time lost. Others went over time and were not able to complete their speeches.

Some may say that a 60-second speech is easy because it’s only a minute, but it’s much harder. Practicing your speech by yourself is much different than being in front of over two dozen people, along with three judges who are listening and watching everything you do.

If you forget one thing and you blank for even a few seconds, time is lost. In this competition, time is everything.

I don’t even remember how long the judges took to deliberate, but it seemed like an eternity. We were all called back in. The judges announced what they were looking for, including how the idea would turn a profit and the entrepreneur’s passion for the idea.

I again began to doubt myself, but not wanting to freak out too much, I reminded myself of what my mom kept telling me, “If you don’t win, it’s not the end of the world. It’s a good experience for you to have.”

One of the judges called out four names, and my name was one of them. Not telling us what places we had won, we all stood at the front of the room.

It felt as if there were a million thoughts running through my head simultaneously.

I couldn’t believe it. Even if I didn’t win first, I knew I won something. I knew that all my hard work, all the stress I felt, was for a purpose.

My name was announced. I was the second-place winner.

This truly was a day that I will never forget. I stepped out of my comfort zone and did something I had never done before.

When I first began writing and practicing my speech for the Business Pitch Competition, I wasn’t sure if I could do it. I doubted whether I would be able to get in front of a crowd with a memorized business plan, with only a few days practice in advance.

I was proven wrong and this time I am extremely happy that I was.