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Come What May
I longed for in October. I learned more this year contest and audience is the best approach for me
than in any previous contest season. The biggest to stretch and grow.
lessons were:
• Practice and support are key
• Try when you don’t feel like it Consistent practice is the best way to get my
I found that my feelings will always present a speeches down pat. I feel good when I can start
good argument for not doing something and they at any point and know exactly what I’ll say next.
are often one-sided. The reasons may be perfectly Practice helps with sounding more natural too.
valid, and if I listen to them, the result will always Emphasizing a word here, changing the tone there,
be that my goals won’t get accomplished. There is and each little subtle shift that makes the speech
a big difference between not feeling it and literally truly part of me. The support I receive from my
not being able to do something. Every time I tried home club New Horizons Toastmasters Club has
and succeeded despite my feelings; it was worth it. been invaluable.
The process was hard. I found out what I could do In addition to Leela, Bill, Joe, and Cleon,
and I moved forward in spite of how I felt. Moving others who have supported me throughout this
forward turned out to be the best choice. process include: Maren Zieba, Penny Jahraus, Dr.
Gwendolyn Avington, Ralph Galantine, Jordan
• One contest at a time Burnett-Rainey, Kamili Talley, Barbie Klein,
I always want to do my best at every contest. I Gloria Cox, Zachary Rios, Huei-Hua Lin, Krikor
only think about one contest at a time. I don’t think Gazarian, Jonathan Abuyan, Rebok, Val, Charissa
about the Division contest when I’m competing at Yang, Michael Kenyon-Rosenberg, Lisa Busenbark,
the club level. I am thinking about the club contest. Maria Mendoza, Ellen Ino, Leanna Lindquist,
I think about the audience and what their takeaway Patrick Locke, Tamsen Corbin, PJ Kleffner, and
will be after listening to me. If I routinely think many Toastmasters clubs, including, Yammertime,
ahead, I miss out on the present and that robs me Feedbackers, Silicon Forest, and Toastmasters
from enjoying each moment. Learning from each Professionally Speaking.
VOICES! | MAY 2023 25
