This is a sequel to my older post:
At the end of the division contest day, I learned that the most insightful suggestion could originate from an unexpected source. :)
The Dawn:
The highly anticipated day dawned before me giving me mixed emotions of confidence, adrenaline rush, uncertainty, and more. I wish I had a word that could encapsulate my feelings. After getting the kids ready and reaching the venue, I was overwhelmed to see all my friends, well-wishers, and seasoned Toastmasters whom I had interacted with only during online meetings but never had an opportunity to meet in person. Meeting passionate Toastmasters from across the state was a gratifying experience. To be honest, during the first hour, I nearly forgot that I was a contestant.
A Few Minutes Before the Contest:
No public exam, a competitive exam, or a customer review could give you the kind of jitter a contest gives :). The interesting phenomenon is that all the contestants share this mutual feeling irrespective of their experience in Toastmasters. Some of them were even first timers and we tried our best to put each other at ease. I firmly believe that although we were competitors for the day, ultimately it is all about learning from each other and growing as an individual.
My Speech:
I was the fourth contestant, and as I reached the stage, I could clearly hear my heartbeat ticking loudly like a wall clock. I felt that the contest master would have heard it too :). The adrenaline rush was intolerable, irresistible, yet at the same time, it brought thrill and a sense of exhilaration. After the brief audio checks, I started my speech, and the audience was quite receptive. After almost a minute, I picked up confidence and completed my speech with ease. When I concluded with a song, the relief and solace I experienced were indescribable. During the club and area contests, there were several instances where I forgot my lines but managed to continue. However, in the division contest, I didn't forget a single line. I presented exactly as I had practiced, which was a first for me in any of the contests. It felt like a milestone achieved in my Toastmastering journey. After the contest, some of the Toastmasters came to me and shared how they felt about my speech. I managed to make new friends this way :)
The Result:
The results in these contests depend on various factors such as the performance and theme of other contestants, as well as the life experiences and relatability factor of the judges. Of course, our performance plays a significant role. Although I knew that I still have a long way to go as a speaker, I was quite happy with my performance that day, despite all the odds. Finally, the results were announced, and I stood third. This marked another milestone for me; although I had reached the division a few times, I had never managed to reach the top three.
The Most Important Part:
The end of each contest marks the beginning of a new speaker born within me. I firmly believe that the most important part of participating in a contest is not just winning but evolving as a speaker. For that to happen, taking feedback, observing, and reflecting on what could have been better makes all the difference in scaling up the game. I do this after every contest irrespective of the results. I carefully noted the suggestions from many people to reflect on them during the next few days. The most valuable feedback surprisingly came from my 12-year-old daughter.
My (not so) little one:
My 12-year-old was there with me throughout my journey from the club level and she played a vital role in shaping my evolving script. She was eagerly observing me during my rehearsals and gave suggestions after carefully watching my recordings. During the contest, she was in the last row with her friends, and I saw her eyes glitter as she keenly watched me perform on stage. She was observing the other contestants as well. Even before the results were announced she pointed out, "Mom, your script was humorous to some extent (!). Your voice modulation, stage presence, and body language looked natural and added value. But some of the other contestants scored better with the 'relatability' factor."
If you are wondering what my speech was all about, it was about how I endured the questions asked by my kids right from their childhood and I concluded with the importance of asking questions. The speech structure was mostly from the POV of a mother.
In her theory, she pointed out, 'The audience appeared to have more men than women, with most women seeming to be in their early 20s. So, if we were to draw a Venn diagram, the number of mothers in the crowd would be relatively low, affecting the relatability factor.' I felt that she indeed hit the bull's eye. In a humorous speech contest, the way your jokes land and evoke loud laughter from the audience plays a vital role in convincing the judges about the humor quotient.
Hence the most valuable lesson this year came from my elder one making me realise that my kids are growing (outgrowing?) too quickly :).