I am usually not always the first one to start a conversation in a group but I am certainly the one who speaks with passion, knowledge and power when it comes to interesting topics. Debate and speech started just as an afterschool club to explore during my middle school. To research and write on a topic and then to present it public is what I started liking but it was during my AP Seminar class as a high school freshman when I really got interested with all its formal and technical approach. I looked forward to that class along with my debate and speech after school club.
I also won first runner up at the Global Musical Icon competition the same year. This competition was held virtually that year and had 33 US states along with 6 other countries participate. During my high school sophomore year I was the octa finalist at the national debate championship.
My public speaking journey continued by participating and winning regional awards at 4H, University of Tennessee. I was selected to script and emcee a cultural program at a local non-profit organization Indian Association Nashville (IAN) and Gujarati Association of Middle Tennessee (GAMT) . I see these experiences as part of my growing and becoming a better communicator rather than my achievements. I think these competitions, AP class, after school clubs, volunteering at 4H, IAN and GAMT have positively contributed to my ability to have clarity of thoughts, communicate clearly and effectively in public at most times. This is certainly the experience I would want to grow with as a lifelong learner.
