Last week, on July 1st, 2024, Toastmasters International kicked off their 2024-2025 year, and I thought it would be a great time to share my thoughts on the wonderful experience I've had over the past eight months. From being a guest to becoming a member, and now stepping into the role of a committee member, it's been an incredible journey. In this brief blog, I'll share how my journey started with me exploring new activities and meeting new people in and around Oxford after moving from Manchester. Today, this club and the folks associated with it have become such an important part of my life.
On November 7th, 2023, I had my first taste of the Toastmasters' experience with the Oxford Orators Club at the Town Hall. I registered through Meetup after having engaging conversations online with representatives from not only the Oxford Orators but also other Toastmasters clubs in Oxfordshire that had piqued my interest. We talked about how these clubs can greatly enhance public-speaking and leadership skills. Interestingly, I almost cancelled my plan to attend that day due to the Cricket World Cup match between Australia and Afghanistan. I didn't want to miss Maxwell's heroics, but something urged me to go ahead with my Toastmasters event plan instead. Looking back, I'm really glad I did, even though it meant missing out on witnessing one of the greatest innings ever played in One Day International Cricket. It was an incredibly wholesome and inspiring evening, observing talented Orators in action. Alongside other guests, I found myself seamlessly easing into the club's processes and dynamics, as if we had been part of it for ages. Before I knew it, I found myself on stage, pulling out a bottle of Balsamic Vinegar from a treasure bag and delivering a spontaneous 2-minute speech, as part of the Table Topics segment of the meeting. Not being a vinegar aficionado, I ended up humorously mocking the product, which surprisingly resonated well and earned me my first Best Table Topics award. More than the accolade, impromptu speeches have never been strong suit for me, but this one made me feel more comfortable and secure on the stage. On my way back, I distinctly remember telling myself that I wanted to engage in more of such experiences week in week out.
After a brief hiatus and attending a few more events as a guest, I officially joined the club on February 1st, 2024. The past five months have been an exhilarating learning journey, collaborating with mentors, seasoned orators, and professionals from diverse backgrounds. I've relished taking on various roles, from timekeeper and grammarian to table topics master, speaker, and evaluator. One of the most valuable lessons I've gleaned from this club, which I actively apply in my daily life, is the art of giving and receiving feedback. It's beautifully and eloquently demonstrated in every meeting, enriching both personal and professional growth.
Among all my experiences at the club, unquestionably, my most treasured memory thus far has been my ice-breaker speech titled "Dreams: An S3 Solace." In this speech, I shared my personal ambitions of mastering the three S's in life: Sports, Sky, and Space. Echoing the words of our respected speech coach and mentor at the club, Domenica Denami, "The ice breaker is your special occasion and you'll remember it forever." And indeed, I do. If you aspire to become an effective and confident speaker and command the stage, I highly recommend reaching out to her.
All said and done, recounting all the experiences I've had, lessons learned, skills acquired, people met, and conversations shared cannot be condensed into a few words. It's an experience you have to witness firsthand, whether you're in Oxford Orators or at any other Toastmasters club near you.
If you're in and around Oxford and are interested in joining us, here's the link to the Oxford Orators Club Meetup page, where you can be part of this journey:
This year, I'll be donning a new hat as the newly elected Vice President of Education (VPE) at our Toastmasters club. I look forward to enhancing the overall Toastmasters experience and providing valuable support to our club members and prospects. Here's to a productive start to the Toastmasters Year for my club and fellow committee members, and to everyone around the globe, may the second half of 2024 be filled with bliss and success.
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