IT MAGAZINE IT MAGAZINE - DECEMBER ISSUE | Page 31

INSPIRATIONAL TALES Breaking The Wall An article by : DAI , Qianwen Aimee Are you afraid of talking in front of other people? Are you nervous when you give a lecture? If so, you might want to The nervousness seemed like a wall in front of me. When I backed off, I felt safe in my little world. In my comfort zone, I read my story. I joined Toastmasters in 2014, as I thought it was a friendly place for me to overcome my stage fright. (Toastmasters International is a US always felt that I was good enough. However, before I turned 30 years old this year, I looked into the mirror one day and tried to have a table topic headquartered non-profit educational organisation that operates worldwide with the purpose of promoting communication and public speaking). Before I was a Toastmaster, I did a good job at my school’s speech contest, but nobody knew how anxious I was. I had to drink loads of water and release myself in the toilet. When I was nervous, I spoke very fast. Some members of the audience might have thought: “Wow,  speech. I found that I could not deliver an impromptu speech well. There was a wall of fear and nervousness in front of me again. I instantly realised that I really needed Toastmasters. That was why, I joined Mabuhay Toastmasters Club later; I wanted to make a change before I get older. I wanted to break that wall and rebuild myself. Now, every time when I look at my son, it feels like a mirror, and I can see myself in a smaller version. I her English is very fluent; while in other members’ mind, it might have been something like: “What? What did she just say?” As a toastmaster, I now know that pausing is critically important.  finished my CC10 ( Competent communication 10 - speech that aims to inspire others) speech when I carried him, so he can express himself very clearly. I have always had to constantly  IT Magazine / December Issue 29