I attended a Toastmaster’s Club meeting. One word: Overwhelming. Being asked to talk in front of a crowd is one thing, being unable to say what you really want to say is another. You could say that this is one of the greatest fears I have.
The first time I encountered the word “Toastmaster” was from mom. She was a member of Dagupan branch. When she told me snippets of her journey there, I was amazed and expected no less from her. I thought, “of course, she suits it–it is her forte, and I know it is one of her strengths”. She was saying Toastmaster Club is a great organization and all. But I guess I did not have that great of an interest in it because one, it is in Dagupan so I would not be able to attend anything about it; second, because I do not know what they do or what or who they are, and third, because I think that if I joined, I will be the youngest and they would expect too much from me cause I am my mother’s daughter. And no, I did not research further about it. My attention was elsewhere. Until once upon a September evening.
Once upon a September evening, I took the courage to attend a meeting. Oh but before that…
One evening dad and I were to meet mom and her friend at McDonald’s Insular, where mom held her seminar. When we arrived, I was drawn to the new event happening inside the function hall. Then mom said, “it’s a Toastmaster Club,” say what now? So I kept on looking inside and I was so eager and determined to go but we were rushing home so I was not able to attend. The good thing is, we met someone whom I can connect with just in case, sir Ronald Valdez. Got his digits saved and looked up “Pines City Toastmaster Club” on Facebook, and et voila, I’m now updated for meetings and all.
Once upon a September evening, I took the courage to attend a meeting. I swallowed my nervousness though I can sense how nervous I was when I entered the function hall, and that was just to talk to Sir Ronald. “I can do this, I can go on through the night without fainting, please do not say something stupid, please do not back out and leave,” were the thoughts that have been on replay inside my head for quite some time until the Table Topics were introduced. My head is quite clear but still unprepared to interact.
Everyone introduced themselves, including us, the guests. Then the guests were asked for opinions on what can we say about the meeting before it ended. My gaaad, I cannot talk properly, I got messy thoughts as I have been jotting down notes about the meeting, the reasons why I wanted to join and some sentences I could think of, using The Word of The Day: Lenitive. Ha ha. I ended up not using the word at all and saying as little as I could say.
During the meeting, I said “yes!” to myself. Yes, I will join. Yes, I know that I will improve on certain aspects of my life if not all. Yes, I am ready to be part of this. And yes, I am so excited!
Another experience, another adventure. Another one of those “am-not-yet-ready-to-take-on-a-new-thing-but-am-already-here-so-I-just-have-to-deal-with-it” moments. So there you go, another step forward and I know you are shaking your head right now and you might be thinking, “Tsk tsk tsk, she went on a new ride again, what must she be thinking?” but hey, I think I was unconsciously asking for this kind of thing right now, so yeah! I am definitely in!
P.S. I only regret not taking a photo of the venue or the tarp or something that would remind me of this first day.
