Page 32 - Voices Feb 2018

FUTURE STARS

Toastmasters

Changed My Attitude

Hammad Khan

Three years ago, I was walking through the hall out of nervousness, every bone in my body felt
at school between classes. Suddenly I heard like it disappeared. Regardless, I forced myself

a voice from behind me, “Hey Hammad, can to go up on stage and speak about my school,
you make a bomb?” While the student walked hobbies, family, and friends. I must have made
away snickering, I was shocked. I wondered for a a million mistakes, but I kept going despite my
moment whether everyone thought of Muslims instincts yelling at me to stop. That moment

in this way. Was this how was the beginning of a race
people spoke about me Productive against my insecurities.
behind my back? I thought Learning to speak with
high school would be a learning requires confidence took a long

time for trying new things time. Throughout five years
and taking risks, but after a holistic approach of improving my public

the incident with my that takes into speaking ability through
classmate, I felt targeted the Toastmasters program,

and self conscious. consideration I have fought to use my
This feeling affected words to reject stereotypes
my interactions in the a variety of and educate others about
classroom. My ninth motivations. my religion through my

grade geometry teacher conversations. Now, I push
regularly asked for myself to take on significant
volunteers to attempt proofs in front of the class. leadership roles and communicate clearly with
Oftentimes, I knew the answers but refrained my peers. My peers noticed my dedication.

from participating because I feared I would I was elected to serve as Vice President of
make a mistake. I thought silencing myself the club twice. Through the role, I started
meant safety from hateful remarks. a mentorship program within the club and
That attitude began to change when I joined partnered with an online speaking magazine

Future Stars Gavel Club, a public speaking and to give our members public outlets for their
leadership club that challenged me to take risks thoughts.
and speak out. At the first meeting, the club In my most recent speech competition, I
president asked me to speak. I didn’t expect it, so began by asking “Hey Hammad, can you make

34 ONE COMMUNITY