Local Toastmasters group goes on the road to bring self-confidence to Lakehead students
March 14, 2014 – Orillia, ON
Public speaking, for many, is a terrifying prospect.
“When I had to make a presentation, I would get so nervous … I wanted to cry,” concedes Judy Zhong, a first-year Environmental Sustainability student at Orillia’s Lakehead University campus. “It’s so intimidating to stand in front of a class and give a speech.”
Eager to overcome those fears, Zhong was one of ten students who participated in the University’s inaugural seven-week Speechcraft course – a hands-on program offered to students through a unique partnership with Toastmasters International’s Orillia group, Sunshine Speakers.
The course was delivered by local Toastmaster Carolyn Jones, who developed the weekly sessions with post-secondary students in mind. Each week, Jones, along with fellow Toastmasters, including Darlene Elder and Fluerette Knaggs, witnessed first-hand the growth and development of students who started tentatively and blossomed into confident public speakers.
“We have watched you rise to the challenges… face your fears, encourage and contribute to your peers, persevere and go the extra mile – even when exams and life could have tugged you away from the course,” Jones told the students before presenting them with much-deserved certificates.
Jones said she believes the students will be able to use the skills they learned during the program not only during their academic lives, but also in the “real” world – in job interviews, in making presentations and in many other ways thanks to their improved self-confidence and enhanced communication skills.
Mason Ainsworth agrees. The third-year Bachelor of Commerce student and president of the Business Orillia Student Society (BOSS) at Lakehead said he appreciated the program.
“It’s really given me a lot more confidence and they provided a safe place where we could share ourselves in our speeches,” said Ainsworth.
“To see how far these students have come is incredible,” said Fleurette Knaggs, president of Toastmasters Orillia. “This is the first time we’ve done a Speechcraft course like this… taking it on the road. It’s been fantastic.”
That’s a sentiment echoed by Brenda Melick, who spearheads Lakehead’s leadership program.
“I think it’s been extremely successful,” she said. “The students, who are from various disciplines and range from first-year to fourth-year, have each shown tremendous growth.”
She said joining forces with Toastmasters is “an example of a great community partnership. They have been fantastic to work with and have gone out of their way to contribute to the exceptional student experience at Lakehead.”
That experience will be reflected in each participant’s co-curricular record. Thanks to an innovative new venture launched by Lakehead in February, students are able to develop a personal record of their activities outside the classroom.
“Students now have the ability to upload their extra-curricular activities – whether it’s participating in an on-campus club or in sports or other volunteer roles – and have it validated by staff. It becomes a record of their activities that they can bring to job interviews… it’s a very valuable resource,” said Melick.
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Ten Lakehead University students recently graduated from the school’s inaugural seven-week Speechcraft course that was offered through a community partnership with Toastmasters International’s Sunshine Speakers. In addition to the students are Toastmasters volunteers and Lakehead officials.