Public speaking competition

Note: July 2 I accidentally published this blog post last night before I have even completed it. So if you had read this already, READ IT AGAIN.

First and foremost…

YAHOO!

MAD HAPPY CAN DIE.

Thank you to my mom for giving birth to me at the right time and the right date so that 17 years later I would escape the National Service.

Thank you to my dad who rushed her to the hospital at the right time and the right date.

Thank you to the doctor who delivered me at the right time and the right date.

Thank you to the nurse who helped the doctor deliver me at the right time and the right date.

Thank you to both my parents who gave me the nicest name ever that may have saved me from the National Service.

A million thank you to my ancestors who chose the right word as their surname that would be passed down from generation to generation. I’ve never been more happy to carry the family name that I am having right now.

Thank you to the Ministry of Defence/Education of Malaysia for having the best computer in the office for not selecting me for the National Service.

I am so grateful. Thank God. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah!

I was so happy that I announced the good news all over the network — facebook, twitter, everywhere!

Since I was at facebook, I might as well show you this too…

HAHAHAHAHA. 43! I know I am very matured for my age, thank you thank you.

Yeah, so anyways… I chatted casually with Wei Lian over the internet while waiting for the National Service Department to reply me with her NS verdict the other night. F.y.i, she’s is currently residing in Thailand. Here’s part of our convo that we had:

Matt Monroe says:
Did you know Yongming, Ryan and Yvonne got chosen for National Service?

Wei Lian says:
Shit… that sucks like ass for them.

Wei Lian says:
But can they choose not to go (?)

Wei Lian says:
I think it is actually just a waste of time… taking 3 months of your life! 3 precious months man!

Matt Monroe says:
They can defer lah — but choose not to go? Is that possible?

Wei Lian says:
I don’t know! Lol. I am asking.

Matt Monroe says:
Oh! HAHAHAHA.

Wei Lian says:
Who else got it?

*teet teet, teet teet*

Matt Monroe says:
YOU!

Wei Lian says:
WHAT THE FUCK?!!!!!!!!

Wei Lian says:
Shit! Are you serious?

Wei Lian says:
You’re joking right?

Wei Lian says:
Shit shit shit. I hate this! This sucks to the max!

Matt Monroe says:
Lol! Tell me about your experience once you’re there

Wei Lian says:
Nice!!!

Wei Lian says:
Be mean to me! I am already crying now! Lol.

Haha. Funny.

Had I been told Tahniah or Congratulations, I would protest in front of the Ministry of Defence office the first thing in the morning.

I cannot imagine myself swimming in the mud, eating curry, marching, climbing hills, sleeping on a flat bed as hard as a rock, having an “air-conditionerless” bedroom, camping in the middle of nowhere, listening to long exaggerated Civics lessons and etc. every day.

I hope I do not sound unpatriotic to you because I really love my country to death. I am loyal towards my country and I am proud to call myself a Malaysian. I believe that there are better alternatives and other ways I could do to serve the community. Do they really need a whiny spoilt brat in their boot camp?

And even if I were to get chosen for this, yes, I’d probably mourn and grieve over my tough luck but I’ll eventually get over it. I’ll leave with a willing heart and come back stronger, buffer and more muscular! It’ll be a great exercise regime for me. HAHA. Sort of wish I was chosen now…

I wonder if the Ministry of Defence or Education reads my blog. Hmm…

I WANT TO GO FOR THE NATIONAL SERVICE!!!

PICK ME! PICK ME! ADD ME IN THE PLKN LIST!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I wanna see if this comes true. Just for fun. It’ll be funny if I end up in the list tomorrow.

Honestly, somewhere deep deep deep deep deep down inside me feels like going. In life, almost everyone will be going to college but not many will have this kind of opportunity. Agree?

Anyways, IF I do get chosen, I know that I won’t be going alone because ELAINE, RYAN, YONGMING, SARAVANAN, WEI LIAN AND AMELIA ARE GOING WITH ME! WHOO PEE. What are the odds that all of us will be sent to different camp sites?

Okay, back to what I was supposed to blog about. I participated in a public speaking competition last last last (three ‘last’ yea ) Monday in conjunction with my school’s corporation and entrepreneurial day. The topic was “How to be a successful businessperson in the future”. There were fifteen participants altogether including myself — fourteen of us are from the school’s debate academy.

I was so not prepared for the competition at all I tell you! I only started working on my script on Sunday midnight. The competition was on Monday morning Stressssssed like swine! Pigs don’t stress but who cares!

I rehearsed my speech out loud and proud in my bedroom until 3:00AM. My neighbors may have thought that there was a self-talking psycho living somewhere in the neighborhood. I fell asleep unprepared for the next day. It’s afterall just a school competition. Nothing grand. No pressure.

Here’s my script if anyone of you are interested to read (I doubt that there’s any).

A very good morning I bid to the honorable and fair judges, teachers and fellow friends. Hi. My name is Matthew and I am a proud student of 5 Zeta. The topic that I was given for today’s public speaking competition is “How to be a successful businessperson in the future as a student”.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Throughout my life, I have been raised to appreciate education. I have been constantly told that it is through education that I will succeed in today’s competitive world. I have been given hope that my life will change with education. Ladies and gentlemen, it is through the knowledge and wisdom that we gain from education that will enable us to differentiate what is right or wrong. It is only through education we are able to run our business effectively and efficiently

Next, in order to be a successful businessman, we must always be fair and impartial in life. We must learn to motivate the people around us so that they will give their utmost and hundred percent. As a leader in any corporation, it is important that we inspire our workers – regardless of race, religion, gender and creed so that they respect you. And through respect, people will be willing to work and go the extra mile for you.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In addition to that, we must always cherish the people around us because you’ll never know that the friend you that make today will one day help you in the future. Personally, I am very fortunate to be surrounded by great friends throughout my life. When everyone else seemed to have given up on me, it was my closest friends who stood strong and believed that there is still hope and possibility that things will turn out good out. Same goes in business and in any career field that we choose – if we face a problem, it is your closest friends who will be there for you and help you get through that dark ordeal.

Next, in order to be a successful businessman or to succeed in life in general, we have to confident, charismatic and passionate in whatever we are doing. If we are confident, people will believe in us. If we are passionate, people will be motivated by us. Same goes in business, the ability to convince a potential investor is crucial. If you are not able to sell yourself to others, people will feel doubtful about you and will never invest in your company.

Last but not least, we must always stay strong and never give up. When you are knocked down, stand up and keep going. When you face a dead end, climb to the top and keep going. When you face a financial downturn, rise and keep going. When you are on the verge of bankruptcy, persevere and keep going. When the people around you have lost hope in you, have faith and keep going.

With that ladies and gentlemen, thank you.

monologue: Wtf am I supposed to say again?

*breathe in*

*breathe out*

I was hampered by nerves despite having been speaking in the public eye for numerous times already. Mad disappointed at myself!!! I mumbled my way till the very end of my speech. I had a couple of pauses here and there. I SUCKED BIG TIME! Grrr…

There were many other great speeches that came after mine. LIKE HELLO?! I was fighting against the best speaker of the Dusun Eko leadership camp, Leo’s public speaking Queen and three unparalleled debaters. It seemed like I was going to come in last place.

There was an air of suspense at the place we were gathered around for the announcing of the results. The judges started off by giving a brief comment on our speeches. Neither of the three judges gave me that ‘tsk-tsk-tsk-I-am-so-disappointed-in-you’ look. I know how a ‘tsk-tsk-tsk-I-am-so-disappointed-in-you’ look looks like. It comes along with a certain negative aura only I will feel and know.

And when the results were revealed, I found out that I came in 4^th place! HAHAHA. Who knew?!

Personally, I think that it was a biased decision lah. There were so many people who spoke better than me on that day. Those of you who were present to hear my speech would agree that I was not extraordinary that day.

My English language teacher was on the judging panel, for God’s sake! And so was my debate mentor! They have heard me deliver better speeches before this and perhaps that has influenced their decision. If Miss Ruth was there I wouldn’t even stand a chance!

1^st KDU’s Debate Association (KDUDA) High School Debate Competition

After posting about my experience in the HELP University College Debate Competition three months ago, I received an invitation from the President of the KDU’s Debate Association himself to compete in the very first KDUDA High School Debate Competition.

I immediately informed my fellow HELP debaters about the existence of the KDUDA debate competition and convinced them to register for the competition as a team. Due to our prolonged procrastination, we only registered ourselves on the dateline itself.  It was a relieve to know that Annie, Reuben, Lu Quan and I were all confirmed participants and were in it to win it!

Last last Friday, I attended the debate workshop organized by the KDU Debate Association. The workshop was mad boring because I already knew how to debate and the rules and regulations of a debate. Once the workshop was over, we were asked to volunteer for a surprise. Being the overexcited and restless one out of the bunch, I instantly raised my hand up — totally unaware of what I was getting myself into.

Turned out that I volunteered myself for a mock debate! NOT AT ALL EXCITED.

I was teamed up with two girls. The first speaker of my team is from Seafield. She and the third speaker of the government team come from the same school and were last year’s Taylors debate champions. I was made third speaker, a role I have never played before. OMG. WHY WAS I SO DUMB TO VOLUNTEER?!

The motion was “This house would abolish the death penalty in Malaysia”.

We were the opposition. I WAS SO SCARED TILL I WAS SHAKING ALL THE WAY UP TO THE STAGE.

I was so dumbfounded by how well my first speaker presented our case that I started begging my second speaker who was sitting beside me for forgiveness should I screw up later. Haha. I was equally as dumbfounded by the second speaker of the government team all I merely did was stare at her instead of writing rebuttals. And when the whip of the government team lambasted us with her rebuttals, I almost wanted to run down to Mr. Jacob and weep like a baby. LOL.

And when it was finally my turn to speak, I “confidently” (note the inverted commas) strode over to the center stage and adjusted the microphone to my height, downwards that is. I was the only speaker who messed with the mic. I think I looked pretty cool when I did that. HAHAHA. It was a desperate attempt to gain points for ’style’.

I did super terribly lah. I had my points and rebuttals all over the paper. Half way through my speech I made a looooooooong pause because I couldn’t find my rebuttals on the paper. There was an awkward 30 seconds of pin drop silence. I was a nervous wreck up there! And having 200 pairs of eyes gawking at me certainly did not help reduce my nerves. It was so embarrassing!

Not sure whether the opposition won in the end because Mr. Jacob, myself and everyone else from Subang Utama ran out of the lecture hall once I was done to avoid the after work rush hour traffic.

The real competition begun the following day. Mad lazy to blog already. I’ll just post the results up.

Debate no.	School		Results
	Government	Opposition
1	Subang Utama	Sri KDU	WON
2	Subang Utama	Seri Permata	LOST
3	Subang Utama	Taman Sea	WON
4	USJ 4	Subang Utama	LOST
5	Subang Utama	Taman Sea	WON

With 3 wins in our hands, we managed break through the octo-finals albeit being right at the bottom of the top 16 standing. We narrowly narrowly narrowly made it.

In the octo-finals, we were matched up against Bukit Sentosa High School. The motion was “This house believes that Barack Obama should punish George W. Bush and his CIA agents for the torture committed during the Bush presidency”

We were the opposition and lost. Bukit Sentosa High School continued their winning streak and ended up in the finals with Catholic high. And they won! On the bright side, we lost to the overall winners.