Congratulations to Nancy Liew and Victor Ong for achieving the Advanced Communicator Silver (ACS) and Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB) awards! You have made us proud not only your achievement but also your dedication and commitment to personal development and the club. Both are GEMs to D'Utama Advanced Toastmasters Club.
We know that the journey leading to this great achievement is certainly interesting and worth to be shared as an encouragement and inspiration to all. Both Nancy and Victor are truly generous sharing their experience, as follow:
Nancy received ACS pin from Club President, 10-12-2009
"I feel like a real Oprah Winfrey this time (again). Thank you President Foong WT & EXCO, fellow Members and friends for having recognized and witnessed this achivement. Thank you Chee Wah too for the ACS pin.
An additional 10 assignment projects completion from Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB) brought me to another level of communication track --ACS in 2 years. What does it mean to me? Well, it's neither about the level, nor the pace. But, I gained a little more about who am I; about what I want over times, through speeches.
I failed 3 times in Monodrama speech (from the Interpretive Reading Manual) at the begining, the 4th time on the same evening; I got through. Why ? It's because the previous pains and similar emotion in real life (my version) was bothering me during the play (the author's version) of the character in the drama. I learned to set myself free from the past and draw to reality, within that 7 minutes.... Who ever think that it's easy to segregate the emotion between the past and present, huh!. Sounded like crazy acting, right? I dont need to lie to myself. As Oprah said : "... only through the sharing of your stories, you let others to see themselves for a moment, glimpse the power to change and power to triumph..." I not only interpreted the story, but, I saw myself in the self-played drama. And, I did it. I, relief.
I'm pretty sure everyone does act in real life either intentionally or unintentionally, because acting carry emotion. Only dead body is senseless. Giving speeches is like breathing. We could exhale the unpleasant energy, inhale the values of thought, it gives healthy state of mind. It just needs a little bit of courage on stage to testify, testify it to yourself with truthful speeches. It's part of achievement of learning in life, to me. As life goes on, the speeches will go on!
Dear friends, have you decided to change, to triumph, or to learn more ? We share stories amongst friends at D'utma Advanced Toastmasters Club, 2nd Thursday of the month, 7.30pm @ KDU!
An additional 10 assignment projects completion from Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB) brought me to another level of communication track --ACS in 2 years. What does it mean to me? Well, it's neither about the level, nor the pace. But, I gained a little more about who am I; about what I want over times, through speeches.
I failed 3 times in Monodrama speech (from the Interpretive Reading Manual) at the begining, the 4th time on the same evening; I got through. Why ? It's because the previous pains and similar emotion in real life (my version) was bothering me during the play (the author's version) of the character in the drama. I learned to set myself free from the past and draw to reality, within that 7 minutes.... Who ever think that it's easy to segregate the emotion between the past and present, huh!. Sounded like crazy acting, right? I dont need to lie to myself. As Oprah said : "... only through the sharing of your stories, you let others to see themselves for a moment, glimpse the power to change and power to triumph..." I not only interpreted the story, but, I saw myself in the self-played drama. And, I did it. I, relief.
I'm pretty sure everyone does act in real life either intentionally or unintentionally, because acting carry emotion. Only dead body is senseless. Giving speeches is like breathing. We could exhale the unpleasant energy, inhale the values of thought, it gives healthy state of mind. It just needs a little bit of courage on stage to testify, testify it to yourself with truthful speeches. It's part of achievement of learning in life, to me. As life goes on, the speeches will go on!
Dear friends, have you decided to change, to triumph, or to learn more ? We share stories amongst friends at D'utma Advanced Toastmasters Club, 2nd Thursday of the month, 7.30pm @ KDU!
Victor received ACB pin from Club President, 10-12-2009
Victor shared his Toastmaster's Journey...
We are coming to an end of 2009 and very soon, we will herald in 2010 – a brand new year that is full of new challenges and possibilities.
At a personal level, I am much blessed to have discovered Toastmastering. Because of Toastmastering, I have discovered my inner self. I was a shy and quiet individual, but today, I am imbued with oodles of self-confidence. No doubt, I still have butterflies in my stomach when I speak; but I do know that I can deliver a speech and on nearly any topic at that.
This is because Toastmastering has taught me to pick up the skills of public speaking and if I can do it, anybody can. I used to be mortified about going up on stage, in front of unfamiliar faces to give a speech. If I had to do this just two years ago, I would decline or if I am pushed, I would be very creative in coming up with some good old excuses. Today, I am itching to speak!
Why? Because Toastmasters have prepared me well. And mind you, I have been in Toastmasters for only 18 months (if you count December 2009), and I have already achieved the following:
- I am confident.
- I have already completed 30 speeches.
- I am into ‘clubbing’ in a big way and having visited so many Toastmasters clubs, I had the opportunity to meet so many Toastmasters, that many became my friends.
- I have chartered a club.
- I have taken part in an Area-level Humor and Evaluation Contest.
- I have won many Best Project Speaker recognitions at various Toastmasters meetings all over in KL.
- I have taken on the roles of a General Evaluator, a Grammarian, a Toastmaster of the Evening, an Ah Counter, a Timekeeper, an Evaluator – in fact I have done every role there is.
I don’t want this to be an article to crow about my Toastmaster achievements – but rather to serve as an encouragement to those who have just started the Toastmaster journey or even those who are contemplating joining Toastmasters. I am a newbie but I have benefited so much from Toastmasters that I wish to share this good news with everybody and anybody! You too, can be like me – embark on this journey of self-discovery because I promise you, you will enjoy it as much as I do.
Join Toastmasters and be the difference!
