by Helena Studmire, SR3 – Treasurer, NCTCOG Toastmasters
The 2019-2020 Toastmaster year has been quite interesting, to say the least. I was elected as Treasurer for my club, NCTCOG Toastmasters, in June 2019. On a Friday in late summer 2019, I began the process of mentoring a new Toastmaster member, Evan. The next day, on Saturday, I began mentoring young people to help them with their goal of giving their “big talks” in November! On top of that, I completed three Pathways levels and competed in the Area 63 International Speech Contest in April 2020!
Picture this: I was working with someone I did not know while at the same time working with even more people that I did not know. And to compound things even further, I agreed to take on a leadership role for the club. I was nervous but had comfort in knowing that I had the willingness to take on a challenge, that I could encourage, and that I could uplift these mentees if I simply just dug in my heels and got right down to it. So, I put my best foot forward, attended the TLIs, and tried to be the best treasurer I could be. And I put on a brave face and tried to remain calm for these mentees, knowing that the experience wasn’t just about me. This was about me being in a position to help them hewn out their best selves.
The entire experience during the 2019-2020 year has stretched me beyond what I could have ever imagined.
Here we are, finishing up the Toastmaster year amid a global pandemic. And just like the beginning, the end of this period has taught me a few things: what I can handle, what things I may need some help with, what I absolutely must have and what I can do without.
Even in a place of leadership, we must be humble enough to know when to ask for a helping hand. I encourage you to take on a challenge and just see how you come out on the other side. You just might surprise yourself.
