Public Speaking

Have you ever realized that life is too short to just be in your own comfort zone and not challenge yourself something you never tried before? 


I've come to realize these things recently so that’s probably the reason why I made this crazy decision to participate in public speaking competition. Trust me I didn't contemplate enough to join. I used to participate in choral speaking competition back then when I was still a school kid but you can't see the resemblance between these two things. Although it was just a public speaking competition which was organized for the English Carnival, but still the format is same. You get the tittle, build up your points and get ready to be killed on the stage. Did I mention it was an impromptu speech?

Fortunately, the number of the contestants was not like what I anticipated. Overall there were 20 contestants for the first round. After registered my name and got my turn number (which is number 6, and yes from 20 contestants, oh trust me I was not excited at all to come that early. The register time was really on time, it was the contestants who came and registered late. They were surely got the consensus to come late together).

For the first round, the title that became my food was “If I could rule the world”. Thank god the title was not that tough since the word ‘world’ itself doesn't limit on specific place or situation or even circumstance. So the first point that I gave was I want to wane the poverty all around the world. I highlighted about the importance of working hard no matter what job they do for living. The second point was the emphasis of education to everyone regardless the age, gender, where they come from and whatnot. My last point was the equality for the women. Means give the women their rights to develop this world together and at the same time give the opportunity for them to show what they have in order to make this world as a better place. Well, who is man without woman right?

The announcement of the contestants for the next round which is straight to the final round (and which only eight contestants qualified) didn't excite me at all. I guess I was done talking rubbish and embarrassing myself on the stage but surprisingly I made it to the final. I couldn't deny the pressure was a bit high and the competition became excitingly intense since the finalists were all great and amazing.

The title that I got for the final round was “Three Things that Scared Me”. Oh I think I can list down millions things that scared me with the firm reasons haha. My first point was how I scared if people put high expectation on me but ended up I disappoint them (this is really cliché but I guess it happened to everyone too). My second point was how I scared if I’m losing my loved ones. It was a bit emotional talking about this like you unconsciously imagined about your loved ones, left this world forever and what if the rest leave you too, before you. You just have no one else anymore. My last but not least point was thinking about future, everything about future; studies, marriage, country, and that’s just scary even when I write this. It’s pessimism.

Don’t waste your time guessing either I won or not because obviously I wasn't haha. The winners were undeniably amazing with their points, the elaborations, their facial expression, the way they talked and their self-confidence for sure. I have to say it was a great experience to expose myself to sometimes be a speaker instead of audience. Plus it was nice to make some new cool friends and learned how to get  self-confidence in various ways. Whatever it is, I still proud of myself for capable challenged myself doing something I never did before. Well, every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.