From Toastmasters to Triumph: Five Tales That Sparked the Stage
It was an amazing afternoon, the weather was perfect. It was Saturday, 27th January 2024. Anchorvale CC Toastmasters Club was buzzing with excitement. It was time for the Club’s international speech contest chaired by our beloved Club Mentor, Jenny Au. Five brave souls stood poised, ready to ignite the International Speech Contest stage with their powerful narratives. Buckled up were all of us, for this afternoon as we embarked on a journey through triumphs, vulnerabilities, and lessons learned, all delivered with captivating eloquence.
The meeting started
off with Contest Chair, Jenny Au addressing a packed room waiting eagerly for
the International Speech contest to begin.
Prior to the meeting, the
Tally Counters, Timers and Judges were briefed by the Chief Judge, Muhammad
Nurhakim followed by briefings of contestants, SAA and the conducting of contestants
order balloting. This was followed by a warm welcome to the 5 brave heroic club
members who were contesting in the AVCC club contest and the explanation of
contest rules by Contest Toastmaster, Mr. Anand Ariyarathinam and finally an
opening address by the Club President, Adeline Yeo.
Some of the rules were
indicated below :
(a) Only for Paid
members
(b) Members who
completed at least 2 levels of any pathway
(c) Speech should be
original
(d) Contestants cannot
make any reference to other contestants’ speeches
(e) Timing for the
speech is 5-7 minutes and it starts when the contestant starts either a
verbal/non verbal communication to the audience.
Conquering the Mountain in Reverse: 3 steps Forward and 1 step
Backward - Constantine Koh
First up, Constantine Koh challenged our perception of progress.
His "3 Steps Forward, 1 Step Back" wasn't about defeat, but a
reminder that even stumbles lead to growth.
He started his speech with the opening
sentence " How many of you like to complete your task of the day and
couldn't handle any more and decided to give up". He then shared his story
of the decision to join Toastmaster. When he slowly started to speak at various
club meetings, his confidence at that point shoot to the sky. He reiterated
that, “Sometimes we feel we are at the top of the mountain while sometimes we
feel we are down”. However the constant "Reflect, review and refocus"
methodology , will help us to monitor our progress or growth and ultimately
show us who we are and what we are capable of". With his engaging call to
action, "If I can do it, you can too," he left us empowered to
embrace the climb.
Blessings and Perspectives: Alvin Kuek
Next, Alvin Kuek's
"Blessings and Perspective" moved us with heartwarming anecdotes. He
started off with a story of a beggar who was freezing in the temperature of -30
degrees Celsius, and when he offered 200 Yuan to the beggar, the beggar donated
150 Yuan into donation box demonstrating his wiliness to share the blessings
with the temple in spite being in great financial difficulty. It was a
mind-blowing gesture that was totally unexpected.
Alvin shared another story when in Manali, whereby
he interacted with a driver who was blind in one eye and nearly 90% deaf. To
help him financially, the speaker gave him INR 8,000 for the surgery. One month
later, the speaker received a receipt in the name of the speaker for a donation
of INR 8,000 to homeless kids. That was the perspective of the driver.
In the third story that the speaker shared, the speaker heard a one person told his colleague who was a customer service officer “You are nothing but an uneducated person and that’s why you are here serving as a customer service officer, Get your manager to speak to me. I do not want to speak to uneducated people”. The speaker asked the person what his profession was and he replied he was a lawyer and worked for one of the top 5 law firms in the world. The speaker then said “the hallmark of an educated person is not measured by the number of degrees he holds, or what status they hold but measured by how they treat people”. From a beggar's generosity to a lawyer's misplaced judgment, he painted a poignant picture of appreciating what we have and sharing it with the world.
Sometimes we feel that Life is unfair, but
that’s how it is. The essence of the speech was to highlight that we must learn
to appreciate our blessings. Blessings are just like a candle and when we light
a candle, the light spreads around the whole room showing the way. Remember not
to whine for things that we don’t have because when life ends, the size of the
coffin is the same for everyone and we must remember this perspective. His
closing message, "Be the light, be the shower of empathy," resonated
deeply into our hearts.
From Greed to Growth: I am not Stupid - Marc Wong's Honest Confession
The third speaker was Marc Wong who bravely bared his "I Am
Not Stupid" story. His tale of a millionaire dream turned financial
nightmare served as a cautionary yet empowering message. He started his speech with a millionaire dream that he had. The speaker said, that
as a young man, he used to dream of becoming a millionaire like rich people in the
Crazy Rich Asians movie. Driven by the dream of wealth, the speaker diligently explored
various investment avenues. He eventually encountered a mentor who promised
riches through a seemingly foolproof "robot" trading strategy.
Despite initial reservation, the allure of easy money and seemingly positive
results gradually eroded his prudence. He poured more and more funds into the
scheme, fuelled by escalating greed and the illusion of guaranteed success.
However, the dream turned into a nightmare when the entire
operation vanished - the robot, the mentor, and his invested capital.
Devastated and blaming himself ("I was stupid"), he retreated into
isolation. But a wise nudge from his father ("It's not stupidity, son, but
greed that clouded your judgment") helped him emerge from the darkness.
He learned a valuable lesson: even intelligent individuals can
be swayed by emotions like greed, leading to poor decisions. While
acknowledging the sophistication of modern scams, he emphasized the importance
of emotional intelligence and vigilance against manipulation. Recognizing that
anyone can fall victim, he encouraged personal growth and heightened awareness
as key defences.
He concluded by reclaiming his worth, declaring, "I am not
stupid!" – a powerful message emphasizing resilience and learning from
experience, highlighting the vulnerability of emotions, he urged us to learn
from mistakes and approach opportunities with vigilance even in the face of
adversity.
Cleanliness Starts with Us: Keeping our Public toilets clean.
Imam Hossain's Call to Action
The fourth speaker, Imam Hossain challenged us with a question:
"Are you satisfied with public toilets?" He mentioned what Public
toilets are, speaking about the condition of the toilets these days in MRT
stations, LRT stations or in the public places, where people when are not
satisfied with the first toilet so they moved on to another and another in the
search of a good toilet. The speaker highlighted the discrepancy between the
government's spending on public toilets and their often-subpar condition, contrasting
it with the cleanliness of toilets in places like shopping malls and airports.
He emphasized the need for long-term solutions to maintain cleanliness and drew
inspiration from their experience in Tokyo, where public toilets remained
remarkably neat despite high usage.
The key, according to the speaker, lies in
individual responsibility and a cultural shift towards treating public toilets
like our own homes. This involves not just personal actions but also public
education campaigns that instil a "clean and dry toilet is a healthy
habit" mentality. He added that raising awareness about their state and
suggesting practical solutions, he emphasized collective responsibility.
The speaker concluded by reminding the
audience of Singapore's reputation as a "Clean and Green" city and
urged everyone to collaborate in keeping public toilets clean and hygienic.
Walking a Mile through Stepping “in Someone’s Shoes”: Wee Chee
Sian's Empathetic Journey
The final speaker, Wee Chee Sian, took us on a metaphorical walk with his speech, "In Someone's Shoes." Inspiring empathy and understanding, his
message urged us to see the world through different lenses and connect on a
deeper level.
He started his speech explaining that his mind swam in
adrenaline, erasing the memory of his footfalls, his heartbeat a distant
tremor. Fear gnawed deeper than any imagined horror, leaving him breathless. He
swore his heart raced ahead, reaching the rusted gate before his bloodied
hands, frantic in their search for the key. Frustration mounted with each
failed attempt, memory flickering as he wrestled the lock. Finally, it yielded,
leaving a grimy smudge on his blood-stained palms. The distant wail of an ambulance
offered a flicker of hope, swallowed by the grim scene before him.
This wasn't a movie, despite his youthful fantasies inspired by
chilling tales. This was the harsh reality of a Sunday duty gone wrong when he was servicing as a medic during his national service. The
silence shattered by the alarm and desperate cries. The medical centre revealed
a sight etched in his memory: a bloodstained pen, a crimson pool, a life
teetering on the brink. His voice, a veneer of calm over the inner turmoil,
crackled through the walkie-talkie, calling for help. Disoriented and clumsy,
he clutched a shirt, desperate to aid, his hands trembling under the weight of
the moment. The arrival of the senior medic, armed with professional help, released
him from his agonizing uncertainty, but the echo of the experience lingered.
Years later, he recognized the unsettling truth - the scene from
a book, read long after, mirrored his own. It served as a stark reminder of the
vulnerability masked by courage. He acknowledged the unsaid things, the tears
unseen, the fear that could have crippled him. Selective memory might shield
him from some of the pain, but the core message remained: judging those who
face life-or-death situations from the comfort of a coffee shop is easy. True
appreciation lies in recognizing the burden these front liners carry, the literal and
figurative heat they walk into, fueled by a courage deserving respect, not
armchair criticism. He concluded by saying that the next time you sip your
coffee, remember the shoes they walk in, the burdens they shoulder, and the
unwavering resolve that defines their service.
Toastmasters Triumph: From Speeches to Shine
The lights dimmed, applause faded, and anticipation
filled the air. The Toastmasters International Speech Contest at the Anchorvale
CC had concluded, leaving a vibrant tapestry of stories woven by five brave
speakers. Now, it was time to capture the moment.
Cameras flashed, smiles beamed, and a warm
camaraderie resonated as participants, judges, and the contest chair squeezed
into a single frame. A sweet break for refreshments followed, offering the
perfect opportunity for networking and connections to blossom.
But the highlight of the evening remained: the results. Certificates glittered as they were distributed, acknowledging the efforts of both speakers and those who made the event possible. With bated breath, everyone awaited the names that would etch themselves in the club's history – the champions who would carry the Anchorvale CC banner to the next round of the international competition.
No disqualifications – a testament to the caliber
of talent. With a flourish, Division A director Rebecca presented the trophies
to the top three: Marc Wong (3rd place), Alvin Kuek (2nd place), and the grand
champion, Wee Chee Sian.
President Adeline Yeo then took the stage, her voice brimming with pride. She posed a question, and the answer resonated – "Fantastic!" The program had ignited sparks of inspiration and laughter, leaving an indelible mark on everyone present.
This wasn't just the culmination of the evening's
contest, but a reflection of the club's journey. Adeline reminded everyone that
this was the second contest in two weeks, following the Table Topics and
Evaluation contests. In these moments, the club's motto, "Together we
Shine," resonated deeply.
She lauded the transformation she had witnessed in
members who joined over the past year. Their courage to take the stage and
deliver such captivating performances wasn't just a personal triumph, but a
testament to the nurturing environment cultivated by the club. It was a message
of empowerment – stutter, stammer, stumble, but stay with Toastmasters, and
you'll witness the magic of transformation unfold.
The Anchorvale CC International Speech Contest had etched itself not just in the memories of those present, but in the club's legacy. It was an evening of stories, connections, and a powerful reminder, as the President proclaimed, "Together we shine," the spirit of Toastmasters – growth, support, and transformation – shone brightly.
Do stay tune for our next chapter meeting and we welcome you to join us as guest.
Together We Shine!!
Anchorvale CC Toastmasters Club
Written by Sandhya Rani Maruvada
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