Piece for International Speech Contest
Program Year : PY 2010-2011
Program Year : PY 2010-2011
Title : High School Reunion
Delivered at : Area Level International Speech Contest
Evaluated by : TM Irfraleen Fuentes Amores
Target Norm : - not yet identified -
Note:
- The speaker represented Filcom-IT Toastmasters Club
- The speaker won 2nd place behind TM Roi Ontiveros - 1st who represented Toast of Comsofil
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Few months ago, I received a long distance call from someone who asked if I am Mr. Jorge Nathaniel H. Amores, the Toastmaster. I said “Yes, I am… and how can I help?” The man replied “Mr. Jorge, I am Dr Alfred Norman, your high school principal. Please attend and be the guest speaker of our silver anniversary”. Surprised, I asked “why me?” He politely replied “Mr. Jorge, you came from the bottom 5 of the class.”
Fellow Toastmasters, judges, contest masters, ladies and gentlemen, good evening!
Was that a complement or an insult: inviting me to deliver a speech because I belong to the rejects? What was he thinking? But honestly, I was really skyted – excitement that goes to the sky – skyted! This is my first time to see my classmates after 25 years, and I was wondering how would they look now? I for one would like to show off that the small boy has grown into a handsome man. Hah! They would be drooling with envy. My speech: it will highlight my achievements, my conquest, and my victories in life. I was planning to show off - Toastmaster!
And when the big day arrived, I came prepared. I wear my best tuxedo and I didn’t just get inside, I entered the hall. It works and I could hear whispers… “who is he?”. Then from nowhere, someone shouted “Horheeeee…” and then everyone nodded “ahh… Jorge, he looks good”. A close friend greeted me: “Hey Jorge, you never changed, you used to have big tummy full of worms, and now you still have one”. I immediately cut him “yeah, it’s full of fats”. There were laughter and good time as we make fun on how fun on how we old we are, on how our belly has grown large, and for some their vanishing hair.
Amidst the laughter, I saw from the dark corners of the hall some of my classmates. Curious, I took the first step and ask how life is? They simply replied “Jorge, we are not as fortunate as you are”, then they move away.
I was taken aback. There, reality sank in. I felt their pain: on how it was to be left behind, humbled and defeated when all of your friends have succeeded. When I look around I realized that most of my classmates came in ordinary shirts and jeans. Yes, there were few who came in formal clothes – the noisy businessmen, politician, and military officers. Yet these few... we all hug all the limelight, while the majority can only basks on the faded reflections of our vanity.
I was so ashamed of myself, of my speech that glorifies me. I was insensitive and totally out of touch. So right there and then, I throw away my piece and delivered an impromptu speech. This time, the message was on the small successes of each our classmates, reminding them on how they made a difference on their lives, their love ones, and the people around them. I asked them to count their blessings, try naming them one by one and be surprised on how fortunate they were than they ever imagined.
How about us fellow Toastmasters? Have we tried counting our blessings and try naming them one by one?
On a global scale, some of us may feel sad that we were not born in the USA where we enjoy standard of living to the max, or perhaps China where good were so cheap. But look around. Saudis, you have a rich and prosperous country. Indians, you have the number of talented people who now spearhead in research and technology of the world. Filipinos, you have a resilient spirit that could make you survive anywhere in the planet. And you can sing very well. We don’t need to be in the USA to enjoy life; we could do it here in Riyadh… anywhere!
Let’s go local… in our club. Had there been time that we envious of the big clubs like RTM, Sabic, PICPA because they produce good speakers, champions, and they seem to achieve DCP awards easily, isn’t? But you know what? They do worry about new members, attendance, tardiness, and getting members to deliver project speeches. They do have the same problems just like the rest of us.
I challenge the clubs to try naming your blessings. You maybe few, but your meeting – superb quality! You may not have champions but look at your members, they all grew up. These are little victories that made your club, something that other clubs didn’t have – that is why they now close shop.
And if you allow me to get personal…. have you counted your blessings lately, and tried naming them one by one? Financial problems? Don’t worry we all have that. What is important is at the end of day, both end meet? Your looks? Common’ be confident of who you are! TM Roi is not worried of his vanishing hair. He is happy, he still have two dozens to count every day! TM Tanga, he is not worried about diet! He just sits beside TM Mubin and myself then he feel he has eaten less. Because we eat more!
Yes, we have problems – big and small. It will always be there and even if you solve it, another one will come. Instead of counting our problems, how about counting the numerous solutions that we pick up along the way that help made our life better?
Dr. Alfred Norman, our principal, chose me among 200 graduates of Notre Dame Batch 85 not because I was the best. It was not because I was the most successful, certainly not because I was the most good looking. Toastmaster Alfred Norman knows that Jorge failed many times, learned along the way, and yes… I learned to name the numerous little blessing that I had… and shared it to everyone along the way.
