Page 20 - 2018 January Voices

Raise the Bar

by Roha Khan

Among the many members of Toastmaster clubs, Roha Khan is an 8th grader attending ORVA,
the “Toastmasters Changed My Life” speech is an online k12 school. She currently is a member of
a common one. With good reason of course. the Future Stars gavel club, and has gained a better
Focusing on the improvement of public speaking, understanding of what it takes to be a confident
Toastmasters also helps with evaluating, writing, speaker. Some of the things she enjoys are reading,
and socialization skills, to name a few. Yet for writing, baking, and spending time with friends.
me, the words, “Changed My Life” are a bit of a Future Stars Gavel Club, is a youth communication
stretch. After all, my life can’t really change when and leadership club administered by Toastmasters
it’s barely just begun. International, helping the young people of today
As a member of Future Stars, a gravel club for become the great leaders of tomorrow! The club is
the youth, my weekly dose of speaking practice open to all middle school and high school aged kids. It
is just starting to take effect. But it’s not only gives them the opportunity to become better listeners,
that I am constantly learning new things, from thinkers, speakers and leaders.
how to use words in a beautifully subtle way, to The club meets weekly during the school year
finding that it’s not the end of the world when every Saturday from 10:30am-12:00pm at 4115 SW
I do something embarrassing, even when it’s in 160th Avenue, Beaverton, Oregon 97007 in the first
front of 20 or so people. room in the portal. To learn more about Future Stars
No, Future Stars hasn’t changed my life, but or to visit the club, pleas contact Coach Humaira at
it has most certainly improved it. Beyond all futurestarspdx@gmail.com. Visitors are encouraged to
the slow but steady improvement, the practice, visit the club and see for themselves why Future Stars
being impressed with yourself, and continuing should be part of their educational journey.
the hard work of self-improvement, is, in my
sight, the support system we have. The coaches, Try the Janus Manifesto
officers, and rest of my fellow Future Stars are
part of this system. Each and every individual by B. Lee Coyne, ATMS
gives their best, and encourages everyone else The month of January takes its name from the
to do so too. It’s a system that can never fail (as Roman goddess Janus who is visually depicted as
long as there is more than one person), the basis having two faces. But not to convey hypocrisy.
of our club and one of the best things I have ever Rather this icon represents our ability to gaze
come across. both forward and backward. And each new year
My mum is always telling me, “I started from offers that opportunity.
1 and got to 10, I want my children to get from Last year’s doings may well emerge as mixed
10 to 20 because I want even better than I had, blessings for us. Undoubtedly there were times
for you guys.” Recently having attended TLI, of achievement. Yet we also sustained setbacks
I heard the same thing in so many different to our goals.
words, from so many different people, and the All of which tested our coping with adversity.
more time I spend as a Future Stars member, I None of us gets spared.
realize, that the opportunity most of the older The theme: retrospect and prospect. That very
generation missed out on, is the one I am getting theme prepares us all to thus tackle Table Topics.
right now. I have a responsibility. A responsibility It becomes the substance of coffee break dialog.
to make the most of this opportunity that has, Life is absorbing that cycle.
for some unknown reason, graced me, and like Last year”s episodes supply that precious
many of the amazing people I know, move this fodder for the present.
opportunity forward. It is our continuing education.
Ladies and gentlemen, hear it from a 13 year Ponder our today and tomorrow.
old: No, Future Stars has not changed my life, but Find the traction to take action.
it has improved it, and I can’t wait till it improves That be the lesson etched by Janus.
it even more.

20 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 7 JANUARY, 2018