Lessons Learned from International Speech Contest

Interview session for all contestants

Every Friday is Toastmasters time!

Encountering contest season, every club were busy arranging its own contest event, not to mention my club "Sandoz Toastmasters Club", which today is our FUNtastic day for Club Contest!

Though the weather was quite windy, the wind was abruptly blowing my skirt and messing my hair, I struggled to get myself on time at Sandoz in Pasar Rebo from my office in Wanaherang. It was due to a simple reason, I wanted to how my friends compete in the International Speech session. And what I got is not just a wishful thinking, because all the speakers brought lots of inspiration to share to the audience in 5-7 minutes presentation.

The first contestant was my mentor, Sellie. She started her speech with a quote from Thomas Edison, the widely known historical inventor who failed thousand times before he finally found the light bulb. Sellie told us how she used to be considered lucky due to how easily she gets whatever she wanted. While in fact, it all takes effort and perseverance in facing the failures. Lessons learned: How we should overcome 'the five stages of grief' in facing failure. Failure is a common thing happen to everyone, it's not something to be mourned, and the sooner we overcome failure the bigger we get confidence to try and try again, until reaching what has been aspired.

The second contestant was Bangkit. He wore a kind of 'udeng' or headband made from batik to support his speech topic about nationalism. I didn't quite understand the moral story of his speech, but I learned how he deliver his speech with great vocal variety. His voice was audible, I could hear it clearly though I was sitting at the back. This what I lack every time I had speech, my voice usually getting tremble and squeaky due to high nervousness. While Bangkit was successfully managed his tone and he seemed quiet enjoy being on the stage. He's a great example how to engage the audience with powerful voice.

Third contestant was Arief. He delivered a story about his journey to reach higher education. He said he was not the chosen one to enter public university, but he kept his desire "burning" to achieve bachelor degree. Though he often distracted to finish his study, he set his dream on fire by remembering the reason why he really wanted it to come true. I like the idea of "burning desire", it reminds me to my own dreams which often being overlooked, and to keep the dreams alive, we have to set it on fire and keep it burning.

Fourth contestant was Ucang, my favorite. She always have touching stories to tell in which she successfully hit one in the contest. She shared a story about mother-daughter relationship she found during her travel to Bandung using public transport. The story was deeply touching my heart I almost break into tears. Moral story of her speech was to always love our family. Friends could come and go easily, but only the family who stays.

The last contestant for International Speech was Cai, our club VPE. She set a humorous story about changing one's personality. She did change herself in being photographed, from awkward to awesomely photogenic style. She's not afraid to change. She also encouraged the audience to change. Change in positive ways could help us becoming a better person. Don't be afraid to change and to move forward, that was her fabulous message.

All in all, the contest went FUNtastic! There's always lessons learned just by hearing the speakers. I think it was not just me who get inspired, but everyone in the room who witnessed the speeches are also inspired. Being in supportive environment like Toastmasters is pleasant experience. We learn and share together, encourage and inspire each other. Next contest, I'll grab my chance, push to the limit, dare myself to become one of the contestants. There will be more thrilling experience waiting for me.