Just Speak: My Public Speaking Journey

It's been a long road—5 and a half years, 14 speeches, and the completion of my Presentation Mastery path. This path is one of many available in the Toastmasters International Education Program.

The Beginning of My Public Speaking Journey

It all started on a winter evening in Worthing, at the Burlington, in 2018. My first meeting was in a small hotel room, shoulder to shoulder with others, listening to amazing speeches for the first time.

A few weeks later, I joined the club, embarked on the Pathways program, and delivered my first icebreaker speech titled “Less Forgetting, More Achieving.” From there, I made steady progress, completing speeches such as “Keep on Running,” “Country Roads Take Me Home,” “Finding My Nuts,” and “What Gets Me Through a Working Day?”

The Value of Feedback

As Worthing was an in-person club, I received small notes of feedback after each speech. I treated these like gold dust—wise words from experienced speakers. This feedback was the single greatest factor in my progress, helping me improve with each speech. My confidence in public speaking grew with each speech, role and meeting.

Evaluations from fellow members continue to challenge me to grow after each speech and remind me of the importance of constructive, meaningful feedback in the workplace too.

Overcoming Challenges

Then, my speeches paused. Life got in the way—I moved house, COVID hit, and other priorities took over. After moving, I needed to find a new club, SOS. Although I didn't have time for speeches, I took on more meeting roles: Timer, Grammarian, Evaluator, and Toastmaster. During this period, I:

• Honed my evaluation skills, learning to give constructive feedback.

• Gained a deeper understanding of various roles and their requirements.

• Practiced speaking online.

  
  

This experience led me to participate in more contests, including Area and Division contests for evaluations. I also became the club treasurer, enjoying the inner workings of the club and how to make it tick.

Completing My Pathway

Recently, I decided to finish my pathway. Over the last few months, I completed the final speeches, culminating in tonight's presentation.

Lessons Learned from Toastmasters

• Structuring a Speech: I've used this skill in speeches outside of Toastmasters and in other conversations.

• Beyond Words: Speaking involves eye contact, body language, and facial expressions.

• Giving Evaluations: I've learned to give constructive feedback to help other speakers improve.

  
  

Advice for New Toastmasters

• Just Speak: Whether it's speeches or roles, just get out there and speak.

• Remember Your Reason: You joined to speak, so embrace every opportunity.

  
  

That concludes the journey of my first pathway. This is not the end of my public speaking journey, just time for the next chapter.