Educational Achievements - Stories


"Only a life lived for others are well lived".-Mahatma Gandhi.

We need to communicate well with others in order to convey our thought. Our action and thoughts are combined to manifest leadership skills.

Toastmasters international provided the platform to enrich ourselves with effective and confident public speaking skills. I realise this when I enrolled myself in the Toastmasters program in July 2009.

Many among my toastmasters friends struggle to start with even a word. I do believe the courage to start and willingness to keep everlasting is the key. Let me ask you, do you actually need to prepare if you are going to speak about yourself in Ice-Breaker speech?


 Today having made over 40 speeches which entitle me to the Advance Communicator Silver award. It is certainly not easy completing those speeches without many obstacles coming by. One of those things I have done is going around town to as many clubs as I could. This enabled me to meet many people of like minded and share those tips together. Besides making my circle of friends’ wider .I have also learned variety of speech delivery styles and leadership skills.

Toast mastering is journey and not a destination. There is an ocean of knowledge waiting to be discovered. One of the readily available skills is leadership track. The are many role plays in toastmaster which in time will make an individual a good leader. The leadership program had propelled me into getting the Advance Leadership Bronze in just 2 years. This also requires a lot of volunteering in many events that toastmaster has to offer. Sometimes, by the virtue of no choice, you will be volunteered but every day and everything is a learning process, DO YOU AGREE with me?

Positive mindset and determination is important to balance normal life and toastmasters. ‘Tough times don’t last, tough people do’, said Dale Carnegie, the motivation writer. Win-win situation need to be created in order to move forward. Sometimes, a simple token of appreciation will go a long way like a session of teh-tariks.Being a flight attendant, getting a fridge magnet from overseas worked wonders for me. Are you thinking of asking me one? 

Why not, do you have speaking slots for me? He he.

I have always been asked, how do I find the time to do so many things? Simple, just take a piece of paper, write down what needs to be done, when and then the how to do it will come automaticly.Remember, he who begun is half done. Dare you to begin and the rest will follow? List down those people who you think can help you. Approach them; I am sure there are many souls there ready to give a hand. Trust me on this.
One of the greatness gifts of speech is humor.Let people remember your speech through humor.It makes you happy and the listener happy too. While we take lessons from the journey of toastmaster, lets also give some for other to enrich themself.Fellow Toastmasters who have not begin a speech, all you have to do is to begin with courage and willing to learn with open and positive mindset.

LIVE FOR NOTHING OR DIE FOR SOMETHING
THIAGARAJAH NESAN, ACS/ALB
PRESIDENT MAS MELOR TOASTMASTERS CLUB -2011/212
AREA G4 GOVERNOR- 2011/2012


Sarah Abedi Abdullah ACG, ALB (Area Gov C5 - 2011-2012) (VPPR  Shah Alam TMC)

Sarah achieved her 2nd ALB on 25 Aug 2011 and credited the award to the Shah Alam TMC. She is currently the VPPR of that club. During the previous term (2010-11), she was the club’s VPE.

Her 1st ALB which was completed on 23 March 2010, was recorded with  INTEC TMC,  a student club. She has been the college-appointed Adviser of that club since July 1977. To begin with, Sarah became a Toastmaster in April 2008.  At that time, INTEC TMC was 2+ years old and membership was on the decline. The club was barely surviving with 8-9 members and was even rumored to fold soon.  Strangely, it never dawned on her to be a Toastmaster until  INTEC  student members achieved their  CCs  and won the Area  C5 speech contests back in 2008. This flurry of goals achieved under such difficult circumstances, sparked off her curiosity to seek out more information and hitch herself onto the TMs’ bandwagon.  The perseverance of the skeletal core group of INTEC TMC student members  convinced  her to  help them build the club as a team. 

When she visited the Shah Alam TMC for the first time in January 2009, to present one of her Advanced manual speeches, little did she realize that she would be persuaded to join that club. She was much inspired by the dedication, eloquence and passion shown by Haridas Nambiar, the  then Club President, and Club Ex-Co members like DTM Zaharah, DTM Sharmini, Tengku Shaifuddin,  and Elizabeth Joseph.  Each of these Toastmasters has transmitted to her a great store of know-how and has enriched her in many personal and professional ways.

While completing her manual speeches, she is especially thankful to have been evaluated by great TM stalwarts like DTM Devan, DTM Parames, DTM Shel Ling, Barry Ong (past Div C Gov), Bruce Chan (past Area Gov), Hong SL (Area Gov C7), Ismail Omar and many more. Apart from these exemplary  Toastmasters, the one who has made a great impression on her is DTM SK Ratnam. She will never forget the drastic and dreaded evaluation she received from him for one of her Table Topics speeches delivered at MIM PJ TMC. He had given her a wake-up call to address Table Topics with more thought, care and craft. For that valuable lesson learnt, she will be eternally grateful. In fact, last year, DTM Ratnam was on her guidance committee to mentor her through her HPL, together with IP Div C Gov, DTM NK Valli. The success of the Montfort Boys’ Town project is the beautiful crystallization of dedicated teamwork, collaborative guidance and the wholehearted participation of INTEC TMC members and seasoned TMs from Div C. 

To everyone who has lent a helping hand, she would like to say: “Thank you truly.  I would not have  made it without you”.

Sarah hopes that this ALB award will  drive her on in her Toastmastering quest to attain a 2nd DTM in the future, as she believes everything is sweeter the second time around. Although this involves the gruesome task of going back to complete another cycle of the Communication track, as long as time is her friend, nothing should be deemed as  impossible. As she glides with grace towards her goals, she hopes that others in her club, her team, her area and division will be comforted to know that they are not alone to dare try something new, to dare to  learn and remain relevant and enthusiastic.

As the current AGov for C5, Sarah is aware that the 5 clubs in the area (INTEC, UTTC, DiGi, Summit & SJ Advanced) have certain unique strengths and inherent weaknesses.  It is her fervent hope to help all 5 clubs finish on a strong, firm footing at the end of her term so that the next AGov will be proud to have such great clubs under his/her wings.  No doubt this diversity of clubs do present certain challenges but she has full faith in these words of Henry Ford : 

“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself”. 





Educational Achievements - An Interview (III)


 Name: Lim Lean See
Club Member: Lafarge TM Club
Educational Achievement: ALB








Member’s personal experience
Q : What does this educational achievement means to you?
A : A sense of fulfilment, accomplishment and achievement that I am able to help the club to get a point!

Q : How long does it take to complete the educational goal?
A : 1 month

Q : How did you complete your educational goal?
A : As the President for this term, it’s leadership by example and walk the talk!

Q : What have you learned most from this journey - to achieve the educational goal?
A : Presentation to other members convincingly is not easy, but glad that I am able to send a clear message across to members and guests.

Q : Any personal setbacks or limitations while pursing the educational goal? If yes, how did you overcome it?
A : None. Just do it !

Q : Any words of advice, inspirational quotes or encouragement - for members who are "trying" to achieve the educational achievement?
A : “Just do it" and you will be there.  In my opinion, procastinating and making excuses for oneself will not help but delay one's success.  So, go head-on with your projects!!

Q : Do you have any future plans after achieving this award?  
A : Yes, to start and complete my ACB before end of this term.
 
Q : Do you have a personal mentor to guide you on achieving this educational goals?
A : No

Q : When did you join as a Toastmasters member?
A : November 1st, 2004

Q : What does communication and leadership means to you?
A : I felt that I still have a long way to go in terms of communicating effectively, clearly and precisely with others.
 

  
  
Name: Victor Ong
Club Member: Taman Indrahana TM Club
Educational Achievement: CC

Member’s personal experience
Q : What does this educational achievement means to you?
A : This CC achievement represents my fourth CC attempt and I am already embarking on my fifth. When I repeat my CC Manual - it is always about doing it better than the last time - and so, it is about self-betterment.

Q : How long does it take to complete the educational goal?
A : This particular attempt took me 422 days. My earlier attempts took 218, 260, and 360 days respectively.

Q : How did you complete your educational goal?
A : I did it because I recognize that to be a good speaker, I need to speak regularly - hence my personal goal of wishing to speak at least once a fortnight. This excludes taking part in Table Topics, Evaluations and/or Contests. Most importantly, I did it because I enjoyed it immensely.

Q : What have you learned most from this journey - to achieve the educational goal?
A :  I learned that there is no one excellent speech - it is always about speaking to improve. I also learned that Toastmastering is a journey of self-discovery.; that we are always learning to improve and be a better speaker.

Q : Any personal setbacks or limitations while pursing the educational goal? If yes, how did you overcome it?
A : If there are challenges, I will just bulldoze my way through and do the best I can.

Q : Any words of advice, inspirational quotes or encouragement - for members who are "trying" to achieve the educational achievement?
A : My word of advice is to banish your fears and speak. And learn to enjoy speaking.

Q : Do you have any future plans after achieving this award?
A : My future plans are to continue speaking and once my AG stint is over, to participate in contests.

Q : Do you have a personal mentor to guide you on achieving this educational goals?
A : I have no mentor; everything I know is self-learned.

Q : When did you join as a Toastmasters member?
A : I joined as a Toastmaster on July 01, 2008.

Q : What does communication and leadership means to you?
A : To me, communication is extremely important because with communication, there is understanding. Leadership is equally important - but it should be servant leadership.

Educational Achievement - An Interview (II)


Name: Dato’ Dr Wan Zin
Club Member: Kelab Pidato Kuala Lumpur
Educational Achievement: DTM








Member’s personal experience
Q : What does this educational achievement means to you?
A : Recognition that I’ve completed both communication and leadership tracks of TI educational program.

Q : How long does it take to complete the educational goal?
A : Nine years

Q : How did you complete your educational goal?
A : Participation in both educational and leadership tracks was done simultaneously. All requirements in the manuals were strictly followed and in some cases, they were repeated to ensure the intended skills were effectively learned.  For examples, the CC manual has been repeated (I’ve another two more speeches to complete my third CC), I was the area and division governor, and was a sponsor of two clubs, mentor of two clubs and a club coach a well.

Q : What have you learned most from this journey - to achieve the educational goal?
A : Skills to be a better speaker and leader.

Q : Any personal setbacks or limitations while pursing the educational goal? If yes, how did you overcome it?
A : Time, as I was a full time employee.  Have a strategic plan and try as hard as you can to follow the plan.

Q : Any words of advice, inspirational quotes or encouragement - for members who are "trying" to achieve the educational achievement?
A : Keep trying, never give up. Toastmasters’ program is a lifelong education.

Q : Do you have any future plans after achieving this award?  
A : Yes, continue learning communication and leadership skills through Toastmasters activities, and sharing my knowledge and skills with others.

Q : Do you have a personal mentor to guide you on achieving this educational goals?
A : Yes. I’ve many. They’re all my teachers and role models.

Q : When did you join as a Toastmasters member?
A : In 2002

Q : What does communication and leadership means to you?
A : To be a better citizen of Malaysia and the world.





Name: Bernard Louis
Club Member: D’Utama Advanced TM Club
Educational Achievement: CL








Member’s personal experience
Q : What does this educational achievement means to you?
 A : I am delighted that I can actively contribute by fulfilling the roles required by the CL manualTherefore when I attend meetings I am actively involved.

Q : How long does it take to complete the educational goal?
A : One year
.
Q : How did you complete your educational goal?
A : I go club hopping- visit other clubs and take up roles.

Q : What have you learned most from this journey - to achieve the educational goal?
A : I learned that I have to be constantly active to keep the momentum going, otherwise I will lose the motivation.

Q : Any personal setbacks or limitations while pursing the educational goal? If yes, how did you overcome it?
A : No. Toastmasters generally are very supportive people.

Q : Any words of advice, inspirational quotes or encouragement - for members who are "trying" to achieve the educational achievement?
A : Do not lose the momentum, keep on going and enjoy the journey.

Q : Do you have any future plans after achieving this award?
A : To start on my C&L manual again.

Q : Do you have a personal mentor to guide you on achieving this educational goals?
A : None.

Q : When did you join as a Toastmasters member?
A : In February 2003

Q : What does communication and leadership means to you?
A : To communicate is to engage clearly with people in a friendly atmosphere; and as for leadership, it is to inspire people.