My First Speech in Dubai
In April 2024, I attended my very first Toastmasters meeting in Dubai. That evening, the Table Topics Master asked:
“If you could travel back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?”
To my surprise, I was called on stage. With just one or two minutes to answer, I took a deep breath and said:
“Patience. Growing up, I never realized how important it was to pause, to listen, and to notice the details. Only as an adult did I learn that patience is something you build over time, and it is one of the most valuable skills in life.”
As I spoke, I saw every eye fixed on me. Nobody was distracted. Everyone was listening.
At the end of the meeting, the audience voted—and I won Best Table Topic of the Night. Even more rewarding, several members told me afterward that my response gave them new perspectives.
That moment taught me something important: public speaking is not about perfection, but about connection. And that lesson became the foundation for everything I’ve learned since joining Toastmasters.
The Three Stages of Public Speaking
Looking back, I realized that my journey mirrored what many speakers experience: public speaking often unfolds in three stages.
- Overcoming Fear – learning how to manage nerves and deal with the pressure of having “all eyes on you.”
- Inspiring Others – gaining comfort on stage, using voice and body language, and sharing messages that spark reflection.
- Turning the Ordinary into the Extraordinary – transforming even the simplest topics into something engaging, leading the audience on a journey with you.
The leap from stage two to stage three requires imagination, self-reflection, and countless hours of practice. That first Table Topics speech gave me a taste of stage two—and showed me how much further I could go.
More Than Speaking—It’s a Spiritual Path
Over time, I realized that public speaking is more than a skill. It’s a journey of self-discovery.
On stage, people show their vulnerability. When someone trembles, stutters, or blushes—yet still speaks—that is not weakness. It is courage. And it is deeply human.
That’s what makes Toastmasters so powerful. Each time we step up, we challenge ourselves to grow. We build confidence, we connect with others, and we learn to tell our stories in ways that resonate.
This passion—sometimes even an addiction —is what keeps us coming back. In Toastmasters, we don’t just practice communication. We discover who we truly are.
Final Thoughts
When I was a Club President in Canada, I often told new members during the orientation:
“Toastmasters is like a gym. If you show up consistently and keep practicing, your ‘speech muscles’ will grow—along with confidence you never imagined.”
I believe everyone has a story worth sharing. The challenge is learning how to tell it in a way that moves people, captures attention, and communicates with power.
Through Toastmasters—every speech, every evaluation, every act of courage—you don’t just learn how to speak. You learn how to step into the spotlight and let your voice shine.
By Renie Hung, Luminous JLT Dubai Toastmaster