This year’s tournament was like none of the other tournaments I’ve participated in before. It was way more busy and way more intense. For starters, it was because I was taking part in 5 speech events, 4 of which were new to me. Even as I was running from room to room, I had to take and give instructions, because of the second reason– this was the first time we were running the tournament all by ourselves.
Previously, our tournament would take place after our annual conference and we would have a global leader and a few Student Instructors to help out with the tournament. This year, because the conference date was shifted, there were no global leaders and no Student Instructors to help out. Of course we were still mentored by the leaders in the US, we just didn’t have them on-site. In addition, because I am the first and only Area Student Leader Council (ASLC) member, I had to take up additional responsibilities of emceeing the tournament Showcase together with our Area Coordinator, Mrs Cassandra Shepherd. I’m really glad that I also had the help of other older students who were working towards joining the ASLC. The tournament pretty much ran smoothly and even though I made a few mistakes during the Showcase, I’m glad that I still managed to not make it so awkward.
I’m also really thankful to my mom who drove all the way from Pasir Ris to Choa Chu Kang to help me get my ASLC nametag and Guild pin. That morning we had to wake up really early and I totally forgot about my nametag and pin which was in the room. As an ASLC member I was expected to have these things and because the tournament had already started, I couldn’t run home to get my things. So I’m really grateful that my mom was willing to drive home to help me retrieve what I needed.
By John Teoh
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I Can Do It! 