Yow Kia

I presented this speech on 5th of August at “How to Judge Evaluation Contest” workshop as a test speaker. This speech is the improved version of the Project 10 – Chasing My Dream. The speech was modified from 10 minutes to 7 minutes to suit the speech as a test speaker. This was the first time I presented a speech to more than 100 people. I practiced the speech for more than 10 times and the outcome was much more better compared to the original speech. You could compare this speech with the previous one and you will know what I mean.

Speech Transcript
May I have a show of hand, who has a dream? Wow… I didn’t expect so many hands! Perhaps, I should first define what the dream means. It’s not the kind of dream that you have while sleeping, it’s not the nightmare kind of dream, it’s definitely not a day dream… It’s an ambition, it’s a goal, it’s a vision. Again, who has a dream? Next, who is on his track now in chasing his dream? I can see the number of hand is getting fewer. Are you simply a day-dreamer or an action-taker?

Good evening Toastmasters of the day, fellow toastmasters and distinguished guests. I have a dream. My dream is to be a successful entrepreneur. I understand that in order to achieve this dream, I need to master the skills of communication and leadership. That’s the reason why I’m here.

First of all, a little background of myself. English is not my first language. I was Chinese-educated since young up to high school in Malaysia. In year 2000, I came to a lovely country called Singapore to pursue my studies in Nanyang Technological University. I was a trumpeter in my university band and I had my first dream in Singapore. Promise me, don’t laugh at my dream. That dream was to be the president of the band. It sounds great, doesn’t? A Chinese-spoken guy’s leading a group of English-spoken band lovers to pursue a common goal. Guess what, that dream was merely a day-dream. Frankly speaking, I had no gut at all. Whenever I was asked to give a brief introduction of myself, I could only utter 6 words. Call me Kia, I love trumpet. That’s all. I wanted to speak more, but, I didn’t know how? As years passed, I had got used to the life of just being a quiet normal person. My mindset had labeled myself as a bad communicator. My dream of becoming the band president had disappeared since then…

Ladies and gentlemen, have you ever encountered this kind of situation? You had big dreams! However, the dream was getting smaller and smaller as more and more obstacles that came to you. Until one day, the dream just disappeared silently…

After I graduated from university, there was a tremendous tragedy happened in my family. My dad was seriously ill. He was suffering low-platelet syndrome, which means, if there is any cut on his skin, his blood will be non-stop bleeding. However, he didn’t stop working immediately. There was one night; my dad was admitted to hospital again. I immediately went back to my hometown. Could you imagine the moment when I stepped into the ward, I saw my dad was lying on the bed. There was a gigantic needle piercing into his right hand’s vein, connecting with big packet of fresh platelet. The platelet was being transferred slowly through a vessel. My heart was burning with pain/ anguish. I talked to my dad, dad, could you just stop working? You are ill and you are not young anymore. He told me, son, I have a dream. My dream is to give you all a comfortable life; I want you all to succeed in your career. I could see the tear in his eyes. Well, dad, I’m working pretty fine in Singapore now. I have a dream too. My dream is to be a successful entrepreneur. I promise you, I will definitely make you being proud of me. That’s was the very first time I made a serious promise to my dad.

By chance, I was invited to a Toastmasters Club where I believed I could improve my communication skills. However, it took me weeks to decide whether to join the Club. I was worried too much with the questions started with “What if”. What if I couldn’t deliver my speech well? What if people laughed at my speech? Then I remembered the promise to my dad. I joined the club. Last year, I was given a chance to be the Vice President of Education. I hesitated for a few weeks and finally I decided to take up this challenge. I couldn’t let my language barrier to take control of my life like I was in University. Throughout this one year, I have improved a lot in leadership and communication. I think, I’m at the right track now in chasing my dream.

Then, I asked myself, am I totally no fear to any other thing else? No.. I’m just a normal person. There are still certain things that I have fear in, for example giving impromptu speech and giving evaluation. And I will start conquering these fears in this new term. I have taken a step out to start visiting other club to give evaluation, to join an Advanced Club, to start reading books and I have even taken bigger challenge to lead The Frontier Toastmasters Club as a president. (Applause please…) I know all these things will not be a reality for today if I didn’t make that promise to my dad. Throughout this whole journey, I have discovered that saying out a dream is an easy job. However, to have a firm and undying dream, you must know the reasons. Whenever you feel like giving up your dreams, remind yourself, the reasons.

For those who have taken your first step to chase for your dream, up to a certain point, do you feel tiring? Wanted to give up? Or you have given up? No, you can’t let you dream just ceased like that. Do you still remember the reasons? Be it for your parents, for your love one, for your kids or for yourself. You want to make them being proud of you, don’t you? Then, why do you stop chasing your dream? Keep on chasing, your 2nd, 3rd, 4th step…. Continuously .No matter how difficult your journey is, remind yourself, the reasons.

Lastly, I would like to dedicate a quote from Robert Schuller to you all. I always read this quote loud in my room. Ladies and gentlemen, please repeat after me, a loud one. Are you ready? “I will! I am! I can! I will actualize my dream. I will pay the price. I will never walk away from my dream: Alert! Alive! Achieved!”