我參加演講會已經邁入第19年，當初也不懂Toastmasters的宗旨，只想找一個能夠講日語的環境。因為我母親是日本人，我自小在日語的環境中長大。母親過世後，我悵然若失，非常的不自在。因英文班同學葉文琴介紹，接觸了台中中央日語演講會。

我還記得我第一次踏入會場時那如魚得水的興奮心情，我不知到還有個大紅利等在後頭。
　

我2000年入會，擔任秘書長、教育副會長，在2003年當了會長。在那之後，我放棄了幾次當區總監的機會。因為每次的例會對我而言，就像一場嘉年華會。我非常享受每月一次的例會。我幾乎都得全勤獎；我樂於在會裡當「前輩」，當mentor 輔導後進，讓新來會員早一日進入情況。每當年輕會員叫我一聲「前輩」，我就樂得心花怒放。

蕭鐘玉
Chung-Yu Hsiao
中央日語
2019.08.16.

這一切和諧的氣氛在2018年5月突然停止了。Toastmasters的制度上起了很大的變化，舊制度要在兩年後停止。我發現我處於非常尷尬的局面，左右為難。要在兩年內走完舊制度，好像比登天還難。因為我的演講只講到A14，領導課程方面只到OCL。我還必須做區總監、HPL、分會教練。那麼，壯士斷腕全部放棄，直接走新制度pathways吧！看了制度說明後，簡直沮喪到了極點，因為看不懂。
　

當我意興闌珊時，我周圍夥伴紛紛為我加油打氣。蔡惠娟殷切的拉著我參加HPL課程，李雲貞不時提供資訊給我。首次在高峰國台語會認識了劉雨軒，她堅定的告訴我「沒問題」，給了我很大的信心。之後加入國美國台語會，承蒙雨軒推薦榮任F1區執行長。王君揚和蕭平邀約當大里英文會和山川日語會的教練。補足了ACG、ALS的條件。
　

最後，正好「救援教練雙重得分的方案」出爐，我想運用它提早申請DTM，還勞駕課程品質執行長方麗慈，寫了一封情文並茂，且強而有力的一封信，到美國總會陳情，終於申請成功。
　

回首這一年半，這一切的一切，好像是經歷了一次驚異奇航，關關難過，關關過。一反過去我在日語會當「老鳥」幫助人，這一路上不斷的出現許多貴人，適時的對我伸出援手。感謝Toastmasters給我一個艱難的任務，讓我跳出舒適圈，在反覆的挫折與反省中，重新制定新的目標，勇敢地實踐並克服困難，這會是我這輩子最棒的成功經驗。得到的甜果也不只是DTM榮耀本身，還有在過程中結識了這群為同樣理想一起努力的夥伴們。感恩大里英文會、高峰、國美國台語會、山川、中興日語會夥伴們提供的幫助；還有我的母會-中央日語會，一直給我溫暖的支持，也期許自己能在Toastmasters的大家庭中持續成長。

蕭鐘玉

It has been 19 years since I joined Toastermasters. When I first joined the  Japanese club, I didn’t aware the goal of TM. Instead, I just need to practice speaking .My mother is a Japanese, after she passed away ,it took me great efforts to reconnect with Japanese. With the help of my classmate from English class 葉文琴,she introduced me to join the central Japanese club(中央日語會).I still couldn’t forget the thrilling moment when I walked into the venue of the club.Also, there are reward and feedback I ever expected.

After joining the club in 2000, I became secretary ,Vice President Education, and president in 2003.Though I gave up the opportunity of becoming area governor, I still cherished every moment to part in as mentor to help those newcomers. I even won the Perfect attendance award every year.

However, when I found out that the new program pathways was about to replace old ones in two years, and it was frustrating that the rules of pathways is complicated to me.I found myself in a dilemma and really didn't know what to do for the best.To achieve the DTM , I would have to accelerate my speech presentation, which by the way I only finished A14 speech and projects in Old Competent Leadership.
　

Thanks to my co-worker in the club who gave me courage to overcome the odds─蔡惠娟 has pushed me to join HPL program, 李雲貞 constantly kept me informed of resources about DTM . Also, when I first met 劉雨軒 in 高峰 Chinese and Taiwanese club, she told me “you can do it ” , it gave me quite confidence. She also introduced me to the 國美Chinese and Taiwanese club, later I was luckily elected as F1 area director. 王君揚 and 蕭平 invited me to become the coach of 大里 English club and山川 Japanese club ,which fulfilled the ACG、ALS.

Finally, with new rule of double credit reward(coach and district leadership) I can apply DTM earlier .Owing to the help of D67 Director Program Quality方麗慈,who sent a letter to Toastmasters International in the US to help me apply the DTM successfully.

Looking back the journey to achieving DTM, there are obstacles I’ve ever met, there are also benefactors who reached out to me. Lastly, I would like to thank Toastmasters and fellows of English Chinese &Taiwanese and Japanese clubs. I wish I can become a better person in the big family of Toastermasters.

Hsiao,Chung-Yu