New Beginnings

Project 1, THE ICE BREAKER
Objective: To begin speaking before an audience. To discover speaking skills you already have and skills that need some attention. Time: 4 to 6 minutes 

Speech 1, (Ice Breaker) 
​"New Beginnings" 
Monica Shanahan
Canberra, 30th March 2016
Time: 4.40 sec

Good evening everyone, Toastmaster, Members and Guests. My name is Monica Shanahan. Today I will be talking about myself, and my personal experience with the smooth speech intensive program, held at the Lidcome campus, NSW University. 

I’m a graphic designer, I was born in Canberra, and I was three months premature. Despite the doctors diagnoses, that I wouldn’t have a good start at a normal existence. I managed to overcome every adversity I was likely to encounter, being so premature. 

However, the one strange barrier in my life, that did spring up, that neither I, nor my parents could see. Was my pronounced and at times debilitating stutter.  Growing up I encountered everyday problems, that go hand in hand in stuttering. Bullying, isolation, low self confidence, and lack of general acceptance in my everyday life. 

My journey has taken me to many different places. I have attended 2 congresses on stuttering, sought out experts in the field, gained valuable knowledge from speaking with stutterers, who have had different experiences, regarding treatments. 

It wasn’t until 2013, that I had sought out the smooth speech intensive program, which I can uniqivably say, has made the most impact in my speaking and in my life in general. 

The course has taught me an in-depth structured understanding of my unique condition, and has given me valuable tools to make sure that the condition no longer controls me, but that I can control the condition. This is a feeling that I have never had before. It is a discipline I will keep with me all the time, or I will loose it.

My most memorable speaking achievement, since my treatment had been, when I fluently said my wedding vowels to my husband, in front of 200 guests at our wedding ceremony, in 2014. 

I am here today at toastmasters, to push myself and my speaking to the next level. I want to gain confidence in not only my speech, but facing my fears of public speaking, which I have had for many, many years. I’m looking forward to continuing my journey with you all here at Toastmasters. 

Thank you.