Club, Area and Division Humour Speech Contest
“Who Am I” was the speech Elaine Tan used for Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest in 2003 where Elaine won at the club and area level.
- Humorous Speech Contest
- Speaker: Elaine Tan
- The Open Alumni Toastmasters Club Humorous Speech Contest in 2023
- Area B2 Humorous Speech Contest held in 2003
- Division B Humrous Speech Contest held in 2003
- Title: Who Am I?
Introduction
Have you ever wondered why everyone that you know always outdo, outsmart and even outlast you? Have you ever suffered from an identity crisis in your life just because you are surrounded by too many highly intelligent people? I do.
I have a big secret to share with you today. People who are closed to me, somehow are all extraordinarily intelligent.
If I were to draw my family tree, my brother and all my cousins are now either doctors or professors. I hate to be the odd one out. I once asked my parents whether I was truly their biological child.
They told me with hesitation, “We think so.”
My Family Members And Relatives Are Intelligent
Can you imagine how I felt when I met my cousins’ new boyfriends and girlfriends during Chinese New Year and Christmas? Who am I among these elites?
When my brother and cousins were introduced as Doctor so and so or Professor so and so, I initiated a self-introduction, “Hello, I am DTM Elaine Tan!”.
Although none of them understood what DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster) really mean, I managed to convince them that it was equally hard to get the title DTM in comparison to the title Doctor or Professor, and it is internationally recognised!
Do you know how proud I am to be a toastmaster during Chinese New Year and Christmas?
My Friends Are Intelligent
Not only are my brother and cousins highly intelligent people, but so are my friends. I do not know why dumb people do not like to become my friends, I always ended up becoming good friends with only the super intelligent ones.
DTM Annabelle Yong happens to be one of them. When we reached 18 years old, she invited me to visit a toastmasters club.
I thought she meant clubbing with a real toast like wine or beer as we had finally turned 18. That is what a normal 18-year-old friend would do, but not so for a highly intelligent friend of mine.
It turned out that she wanted me to join a toastmasters club where we could develop our leadership and public speaking skills at the age of 18.
In case you do not know, there are a few things that we can legally do when we turn 18 years old in Singapore. We can buy a ticket from Singapore Pool and drink in a pub. As for highly intelligent people, that includes joining a toastmasters club.
Toastmasters I’ve Met Are Also Intelligent
Life is tough enough having to be surrounded by intelligent brother, cousins and friends.
After joining a toastmasters club, there are only 2 types of toastmasters that I have met, either the intelligent toastmasters or the super intelligent toastmasters.
It is not hard to understand why I had always come in last for the last 10 over years despite having participated in all club contests every year.
I counted that I have participated in total, more than 50 contests.
Whenever my new club members expressed that they were fearful of taking part in contests, I encouraged them citing my experiences, “Relax! Nothing bad could happen when you lose in the contest. If you need any evidence, just look at me. I am still alive!”
Vanity Of Being A Champion
Finally, this year I won my club and area contest to get here. I thought winning my club and area contest was supposed to be the greatest moment of my life and I would live happily ever after with my new identity as a champion. But I was wrong.
Champion for today humorous speech contests whoever you are!
Just a word of caution from me “Do not be too happy!”. Based on my limited experience that I am able to share with you, after winning a contest, very soon everyone will forget that you have won.
I get to realise this cruel reality when I still have a lot of invitations to support contests during this period.
Just Be Myself
Who am I? I think the answer is simple. I am simply me.
My parents and club mentor told me this, “Elaine, there is no need for you to measure up to anyone. You are a great person just by being yourself.”
I agreed with them. I do not need to be someone else by becoming a doctor, a professor or even a champion.
In fact, I have enjoyed my life to the fullness without any special titles or achievement.
I am a great person just being myself. Just like I do not need to be introduced with any title or with any special mention of my past achievements when I come forward taking part in this contest. I hope everyone will remember me as introduced by the Contest Chair, “Speech title, ‘Who Am I?’ and name , ‘Elaine Tan’. ‘Who Am I?’, Elaine Tan.”
Thank you Contest Chair for the wonderful introduction!
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