under-estimated

Friday, 16 January 2009

right, the email (is from ms vivi - the organizer of SpeechCraft 2009) below will nearly sum up the wonderful time i had at SpeehCraft 2009. i love the new friends that i've made. i thought it was a really lovely experience.

Dear all,

Last night was truly memorable. The twelve finalists for SpeechCraft 2009 not only impressed with their witty, touching, thought-provoking and inspirational speeches. They also earned our respect.

When they faltered, they didn't just give up - they had the courage to begin all over again. They cheered and consoled each other when kind words were needed. There was true camaraderie between them even though they had just come to know each other for this contest. They showed us that winning is not everything and that they were willing to go all out to LEARN from the whole experience!

Here are the results for SpeechCraft 2009. Please join me in congratulating ALL the students, some of whom you may know!

First place:
Muhammad Danial bin Badron (LSCT)

Second place:
Louis Tay Zhi Hao (ME)

Third place:
Mak Teng Teng (MDE)

Consolation prizes (not in order of merit):
1) Tee Mei Yi (LSCT)
2) Luo Zhong Yuan Bryant (ICT)
3) Yeo Yi Wei Stenphel (ECE)
4) Mageswary d/o Subramaniam (ICT)
5) Alexander Chan Bai Jun (ICT)
6) Adrian Koh Denggui (LSCT)
7) Tan Jun Hao Larry (MDE)
8) Roger Yip Kin Hing (LSCT)
9) Tan Jun Yao Gary (ME)

Special thanks goes out to all of the following people, without whom the event would not have been possible:
Our experienced judges who were unfazed by their daunting task - Elizabeth Thorarajoo (Chief Judge), Mr Tang Teck Chye, Mr Peter Tham - from the Ngee Ann Staff Toastmasters Club - and Mr Ross Krekoski (IS Reading Committee member)

My hardworking co-organisers from the IS Reading Committee - Diana Chee (Co-chair), Ross Krekoski, Aaron Vogt

Dedicated students from the NP Student Toastmasters Club : Bala (Vice-President & Chief Trainer) & Clarice (Trainer & contest official), Richard (President/Judge for SpeechCraft Prelim Round & Trainer), Godwin (Vice-President, Emcee for SpeechCraft Prelim Round), and Wen Chuan (our very entertaining SpeechCraft Final Emcee).

IS support staff who lent a helping hand:
Mr Wong Fook Hiong, who willingly stayed back to help us to record the whole session on video
Maria and Wai Cheng, who helped with the prizes and the certificates

Last but not least, all those who took time off their busy schedules to support the event:
Lecturers who came down to cheer on their students.
Our Deputy Director, Ms Pauline Leong, and,
Director/IS, Ms Jacintha John, who gave away the prizes and sportingly gave a very witty, impromptu speech which she had pieced together using the titles of the students' speeches!

A Big Thank You to All!

Sincerely,
Vivi Yanti Zainol
Chair, IS Reading Committee
School of Interdisciplinary Studies

we had to dress up for this contest. i wore my heels, pants and some long sleeved collar blouse. how i wish i had the pictures that we took last night. i'm waiting for ms vivi's reply via email. yes, i am waiting. ((:

my prepared speech was on "Rules", where i talked about rules at home. i was the first to speak for the prepared speech. it's crazy. i nearly went blank. i was so lucky to have remembered what i've prepared. gosh. first to start off everything! can anyone just imagine?!

i was the last to speak for the impromptu speech, cos i was the first to start for the prepared section. i guess everyone was waiting for me to speak, so that things can be done and get over with, hahas - i was kinda hoping for that too.
my impromptu speech was "My Biggest Worry of the Future is....". i spoke about death, not the death of myself, but the deaths of my loved ones. i spoke about losing my grandma last year. i nearly did lose it when i talked about grandma and the thought of losing my own parents. i ended the speech with "treasure your loved ones, before you really lose them".
one lecturer came to me and said, "it was a very moving and touching speech. i'm very impressed with your courage to speak about death of your loved ones. it was very well done. it nearly moved me to tears. i am so proud of you." i have totally no idea who that lecturer was. but her words seriously made me "lose it". holy mama. the tears just came and couldn't stop. gawd. and the lecturer came up to me and said again, "i'm so sorry, you were fine when you spoke, but after what i've said caused you to.." i didn't really remember what else was said after that, cause i was half trying to control myself and half trying to smile at everyone else. woah, that needed some skills. still i couldn;t beat nature. i had to use tissue paper. uhh. kinda "malu", eww.

all in all, the thing that was most memorable to me, was definitely not the prize. but it was the great friends that i've made and the fact that i managed to speak about my grandma. well, after all the main purpose of why i joined this contest (other than the recommendation of my lecturer) was that i had so badly wanted to "honour" my grandma, by sharing about her life and her passing.

and i guess this is why i'm feeling so relieved and at ease now, for i've managed to do, what i had wanted to do very much.

grandma, i miss you.

under-estimated

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