International Speech Contest Champion 2018

Marama Carmichael Kishimoto
Tokushima Toastmasters Club

`Confidence cannot be handed out, it needs to be found inside yourself`

– from my speech `What is that Supposed to Be?` performed at the District 76 contest on May 13th, 2018.

About to go on the stage to make a speech at the district contest, I began to feel like a fraud. My speech was about finding my inner confidence, defeating my inner critic, and finding there was more in me than I thought, yet inside me my nerves were fluttering around like butterflies – I wasn’t sure I had any inner confidence at all!

Then when my turn came to get on the stage, I stood and looked out at the audience and thought `I`ll just try. It doesn’t matter if I win or not. I`ll just do my best and share my story`
So that`s what I did, and to my great surprise I won the District 76 Toastmasters 2018 International Speech Contest.

The other contestants that day were amazing. Each of them had an important story to tell – an important message that they wanted to pass on to the world. Each of them conquered their nerves to stand up on the big stage and deliver that message to the audience.
And that`s what I really believe speech contests are about – challenging yourself to get up on the stage, tell your story, and spread your message.

So next time you are asked if you want to join a speech contest – do it! It will help you grow as a speaker, and you too will find there is more in you than you think.

In preparation for the semi-finals of the 2018 World Championship of public speaking in Chicago, I received so much support from members of District 76. Therefore I`d like to thank all the members of District 76, and in particular Tokushima Toastmasters Club for all of their help and support in 2018.