I just won first place at the International Speech Contest at our Toastmaster at Abbott BioResearch Club today, March 13, 2011.  I was very honoured to compete against three other seasoned Toastmasters.

My speech was about how I lost weight and why my daughter inspired me.  The title of my speech was “Persevere, Overcome, Succeed.”  The event was very well attended.

I’ve been with the Toastmasters Club for more than five years and I have completed my Competent Communicator (CC) award last year.  But this is the first time I joined the speech contest.  There was a different feel to it compared with our regular Toastmasters bi-weekly meeting, knowing that I was competing. But, it was a very rewarding experience.  I had to write and practice my speech three weeks in advance.  I guess it paid off.

On to the Area E, District 31 speech contest on March 27, 2012.