Page 33 - February 2020

Meet Elizabeth

Robert Hall, EH5 O
MY COMFORT Z NE

Jaanya Chadha

There I was, wearing my brand new dress joined Little Toasties. As any
and my blue, denim jeans jacket. My hands were Toastmasters-like organization
starting to get a bit sweaty and my heart was runs, the members always have
starting to beat a bit faster. I was watching my to speak. Whether it’s giving a

friend give a speech at our 8th-grade graduation, prepared speech or speaking on
and I was next. the spot. This club has allowed me
As my friend concluded her speech and the to learn how to give an impactful
parents started applauding, I walked up to the speech and how to connect with

podium. As soon as I reached it, I looked across others.
the audience, and my face started to heat up. The The coach and our members
whole speech I had planned and had spent an always evaluate our speeches
eternity memorizing had left me—my mind had afterwards, which has helped

gone completely blank. The whole gymnasium me learn the important aspects
was quiet, waiting for me to speak. Realizing it of speaking in a comfortable
was getting awkward, as I had been quiet for a and friendly environment. It has
minute, I finally forced myself to say “I’d like to brought out my confidence, and I’ve learned how

thank my family and my teachers.” to properly portray it, such as giving handshakes
Then I sprinted from that terrifying, black and making eye contact. Almost every Saturday,
microphone, back to my seat and back to my our members commit one hour to speaking,
comfort zone. That was the moment when I and our ability to speak publicly has improved

realized I had a fear of public speaking. Not tremendously.
only was I afraid of heights and bad grades, but There’s a huge difference between everyday
I was also afraid of speaking. I was confused by speaking and public speaking. With public
this fear, as I speak every single day and didn’t speaking, we learn how to use our voice to

think of myself as an introvert. And since I knew impact others, even if it’s in a small way. Little
conquering my fear of heights would take time, Toasties has taught me how to be comfortable
I decided to tackle this fear instead. in my own voice. Now, public speaking, whether
The timing was perfect, as I had just learned it’s something small such as at a graduation

about this club called Little Toasties. It was a ceremony or something empowering, where I
Toastmasters-lik organization, but it was targeted can help impact others or create a change, is in
for middle schoolers and high schoolers like me. my comfort zone.
In September 2019, as I entered 9th grade, I also

VOICES! | FEBRUARY 2020 33