Emily Murray

Ever since I can remember I have read, studied and learned anything I could. My mother says I started reading when I was three and have never stopped. I am not a person who reads “junk” like romance. I like to learn, and I have used reading to help me with that. I read mostly “real” books: true crime, historical accounts, how-to's, biographies. I want to get something out of the time I spend reading. 

In fact, I want to get something of value out of the time I spend doing anything, whether it be reading, working, playing or Toastmasters. As we all know, Toastmasters not only allows me to learn and develop my self and my skills, but also provides an opportunity to share with others what I know. The best part about Toastmasters, though, is that it challenges me to learn more about a subject, and then try to teach others about it in a way that is interesting. Because I am talking to other people I have to research topics that aren't only of interest to me, but are of interest to lots of people, like I did for my A-10 speech, “Money Money Money.” Learning to do this was the best skill that Toastmasters gave me.  

Through Toastmasters I have learned to look at many areas and topics, and not dismiss anything just because I didn't know much…that is how I found my topic for my A-8, “What You Need To Know About Bird Flu.” I also learned that just because I know a lot about a particular subject, doesn't mean that my audience knows anything, for example my A-3 speech, “Tattoo to You.” I know a lot about tattoos and tattooing, but most people don't, that forced me to design the speech so that it started with the basics of tattooing and grew naturally out of that. I found if I started this way, my audience didn't get left behind, but instead felt as though they were lucky to have learned about something they hadn't really thought about before.  

Another aspect of what I've learned through Toastmasters is how to involve the audience. I like giving a speech and hearing the laughter after a good joke, but even better I love having my audience be so involved in what I'm saying that they must talk back to me. Sure, I help that by asking questions, but even better is being able to make the audience just volunteer to talk with me.  I was lucky enough to be able to make that happen with every speech I gave out of the “Interpersonal Communications” advanced manual.  

I believe that the best advantage out of what I learn through Toastmasters is that I can apply it in my everyday life, or I can even use Toastmasters to prepare for situations I know are coming. I have applied to the International Masters of Taiwan Studies program at National ChengChi University, in Mucha. In this masters program I know it will be extremely important that I know not only how to participate in, but more importantly, how to lead discussion groups. To this end, I am using the advanced manual “Discussion Leader” to expand my abilities in this area.  

I am thankful that through Toastmasters I am able to share what I have learned, but I am ever grateful that Toastmasters has taught, is teaching and will teach me so much.  

Emily Murray, CL, ATM-B