Together is Better

Hello Everyone! I hope everyone is doing better in these challenging times, as it seems we're finally seeing glimpses to the end of the pandemic everywhere. During this time it is certainly important to reflect on how far we have come and how far we have left to go, together. The 'together' aspect of the thought is what reminded me of this video that I am posting here. If you don't mind, I'd like to tell you a story:

Many years ago when I was still in my 8th grade I was introduced to #Toastmasters International, a global community spread out in the form of clubs that helped enhance communication and leadership skills. My dad encouraged me to join one in Doha, Qatar, where we were residing at the time. I was astounded by all the intricacies and talent that went into the art of both. But what kept me there was how positive the community always was! At once, public speaking and leadership became my hobby, and my greatest passion, right after engineering, in which I completed my Bachelor's.

Fast-forward in time, I'm pursuing my Bachelor's in EEE in the Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore (#VIT), where Lo and Behold! A bustling community of toastmasters, passionate and energetic about public speaking! Of course, it became my primary extracurricular activity!

Now premise for the video: Toastmasters International has international speech contests where you contest in timed speeches, based on any topic you want. You begin within the club itself and proceed to the area level, and then division and then to district and so on till you reach the international level ( I am sure you’ve come across videos of world champions of public speaking, well this is how they get there). Now, of course, its everyone's dream to climb up that ladder. But let's bring our focus to that of VIT for a moment, the competition is super high. There are 10 different Toastmasters clubs within VIT itself ( to maintain club-quality, all members are distributed evenly through them). The competition within the club itself is mind-boggling. To reach division is a very big deal! But here’s where things get interesting. No VIT’ian had ever won the International Speech Contest format at the Division level ever since 9 years of its inception! ( The Division Level here consisted of a couple of winners from VIT and the rest from the entirety of Tamil Nadu). It had attained legendary status.

Now back to my story: Of course I wanted to win it. And I worked harder than I ever had, in my public speaking career and I indeed did win it!

Yes, the build-up to the ‘finale’ wasn’t that great, but that’s because it wasn't the finale. Me just winning the award wasn’t the important part. The important part was me realising whom I had won it for. The win wasn’t mine alone, it belonged to the University, it belonged to my peers who held their breaths when the results were being announced. It belonged to all my mentors, official and unofficial, who sat with me up till late hours into nights leading up the event. It belonged to my friends who checked up on me and motivated me. It belonged to those mentors, who saw some potential in a kid that was just happy to be there, way back in 8th grade, to all those uncles and aunties who would come back early from work just to train me for those small little contests that didn’t mean much but meant a lot to me. It belonged to my rivals and competitors who worked hard and shared my passion to push me further! It wasn’t just ‘me’ who worked hard, it was “us” who worked hard. When “we” won the contest that day, “we” were all euphoric! Because "we" had done what many called impossible.

I know this isn’t that big a story, there are far more impressive stories out there, but it's a constant reminder to me, that no matter how hard the times are, or how difficult things seem, we will collectively reach greater heights if we work together. If we keep supporting each other and pushing each other forward! I hope my little story has reminded you of something your own lives. Please feel free to share them with me! We could all use some reminders and positivity! Until Next Time, Cheers!

PS: I haven't named all the people who helped me because the list is endless, but I have thanked them all personally, and of course they know who they are!