Vertical fall and Toastmasters

This happened on December 2010. I was planning to visit my brother, he was in Banglore then. At those times it was Banglore and not Bengaluru. I was with my dad and mon. We took a bus from Calicut and reached Bandlore, took rest the same day. Next day we went to wonderla, water theme park.

I was standing in front of a ride- vertical fall. The height of it was almost equal to a six storied building, except in case if a storey has an exceptional height. I was looking at the people, taking a keen observation. I saw a girl, almost my age. She came in front of the entrance with a double mind, stood there for almost five minutes and then she decided to climb up the stairs. I can see the same dilemma in her when she reached the top as well. She was having second thoughts there also. Finally she decided, any ways this won’t kill u. She sat on the ride and she started to skid through a tunnel. It was all fast and she reached the pool in no time. Now I can see her face clearly and she was very happy. She broke the ice. Believe me on this, she went through this same ride almost ten times. This gave me confidence to do the same. All I remember is me breaking the ice, the rest all was a consecutive twelve time ride in vertical fall.

This was the same case for between me and Toastmasters. People asked me to join, the told me that I can do it, they tried to convince me that I am good in it. Guess what I didn’t believe in me. Believe me, two important people, who I care the most, forced me to at least attend a meeting as a guest. Finally I agreed after three months.

I attended a meeting and I saw pros in action. I became afraid, I cant do this. How can we say one thing is not possible unless we don’t even take a first step. So as a first step I joined Toastmasters. I booked a slot for my first speech. Two days before the speech, I have speech ready and I was all set to go. Still I had second thoughts and procrastinate it to next week. What if I do something wrong? Then I reviewed it with y mentor and was in a good shot to go.

“TM Rohith, My first icebreaker, My first icebreaker, TM Rohith ”

My heart was pumping at it double rate, but I started…..

"His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy

There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti

But he keeps on forgetting what he wrote down,

The whole crowd goes so loud

He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out

He's choking how, everybody's joking now

The clock's run out, time's up over, bloah!"

Exactly…… Exactly this is my situation, But, I said “I was in the same situation when I was in college”.

I broke the ice, and to my greatest astonishment, I was the best speaker. See…. you don’t know what you can do unless you attempt to do it. This was just like my first ride in vertical fall. Then my ride in Toastmaster was faster than which I had in vertical fall. In three months of my journey, I gave three speeches with three best speaker awards and completed six projects in CL manual.

Now I quit TCS and I can’t attend the meeting any more. I miss it really hard. If I was there in TCS for another one year, they would be calling me DTM Rohith.

This is for all the would-be Toastmasters:

Unless you take your first ride, you don’t know the thrill of it.

This is for all the Champions Toastmasters:

My envy will be with you all the time, during your dreams as well.

When wonderla closed at 7:30PM, I missed vertical fall. Even I asked the manager whether this ride is for sale.

TM Murali, this one is for you, I am ready to spend a Million on your club and figures are negotiable. Call me if you change your mind.