Session 123: Be brave, not perfect

Three prepared speeches, an honest look at our first quarter, and the launch of ELIO's new Mentoring Community.

Toastmaster of the Day Sharmila built ELIO's 123rd meeting around a simple idea: be brave, not perfect. The moments that challenge us most, she reminded us, are often the ones that reveal our courage, our resilience and what we're truly capable of. We were also honoured to welcome Division Director DTM Hannah and Area Director Yash.

Three prepared speeches carried the theme. Ludmila and Deepika gave their Ice Breakers, the first speech every new member delivers: Ludmila spoke on "Still Becoming" and Deepika on "Redesigning My Inner Peace." Kiara followed with "A Birthday Present to Myself," a speech that will stay with the room for some time. Evaluators Ibraheem, Jaken and Shazia gave each speaker thoughtful feedback to build on, and Shazia was voted Best Evaluator.

With the first three months of the Toastmasters year behind us, we also took time to look honestly at how we're doing as a club. Our Founding President, DTM Madhav, led a Moment of Truth, a review in which members assess the club experience together. The audience split into six teams, each focusing on a different part of club life and rating it from one to five. The discussions brought out valuable perspectives and ideas that will now help guide our Executive Committee as we work toward an even stronger club.

The meeting also marked the launch of our Mentoring Community, created so that every member feels supported throughout their Toastmasters journey. Our mentors are DTM Madhav, Sharmila, Vice President Education Ridhwaan and Immediate Past President Sewin. They explained how the community will help members, particularly new ones, find their footing, build confidence and get the most from their time with us.

Toastmasters has never been only about becoming a better speaker. It's about growing together, learning from one another and building a community where everyone can thrive.

We don't need to be perfect. We just need to be brave enough to begin.