Championship Memories

After the top three [winners] were announced and I was not one of them, I stood up to hug my wife, and then my mentor. When I turned around, I had 25 people standing behind me. I thought they had made a mistake and wanted to speak with one of the top three. I soon realized, to my surprise, that they all wanted to talk to me. Hearing each one of them share how my speech impacted them brought tears to my eyes. It was an incredible moment.

Having my wife in the audience, listening to both my speeches about our family, and her giving me feedback while preparing for my finals speech.

It was when Jim Key, DTM [2003 World Champion], handed each of the finalists a personal letter reminding us of how proud we should be of ourselves.

Without question, the most memorable part of the experience was standing on the World Championship stage in front of nearly 2,000 people and feeling completely supported. As speakers, we often imagine large audiences as intimidating. What I experienced was the exact opposite. From the moment I stepped onto the stage, I felt surrounded by encouragement. Every laugh, every applause, every moment of engagement felt like the audience was willing me to succeed.

[We] represented countries, cultures, and backgrounds from around the world, yet we were united by a shared belief in growth, communication, and the power of a message. Looking back, what I remember most is not the verdict, not the placement, not the title. I remember standing on one of the world’s biggest stages and feeling at home.

In my semifinals speech, “The Pudding Principle,” I shared my experience of being in the hospital and not being allowed to eat for days in case I needed surgery. It was torture, so I was ecstatic when the doctor informed me I could [finally] eat. I only got a single cup of chocolate pudding, but because I hadn’t eaten in so long, that pudding was the greatest thing I had ever tasted. I savored every bite of it.

Winning the semifinal was an incredible experience; I felt like a celebrity. I couldn’t walk without someone shaking my hand or taking a picture or congratulating me. When I finally made it outside, it was the most beautiful summer day. I sat down at a little table … took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and just basked in the incredible feeling I was experiencing, a huge smile on my face. After a couple of minutes, I opened my eyes and there was a young woman standing over me with wide eyes, and she said, “That was a chocolate pudding moment, wasn’t it?” Favorite moment for sure.

There was a quiet moment when I knew I had 1,700 people in the palm of my hand. That’s a rush.

Standing onstage and being able to posthumously thank my mother for all her encouragement and inspiration.

From meeting the finalists for the first time, to drawing our speaking order, to cheering each other up backstage, to sharing a message from my heart … there are plenty of moments. But I would say one thing, the support from the Toastmasters World Headquarters Team. The way they tirelessly find ways to ensure the contestants are well prepped, answering so many questions, and also just being an amazing cheerleader for all the finalists, that to me is memorable too!

The conga we did with all the [other] finalists, and the briefing of the finalists when [1995 World Champion] Mark Brown walked in.

Making friends from around the world while having a chance to make the world better through my message.

For me, the most defining moment came in 2018 in Chicago when I lost at the semifinals. That was my third time competing, and I felt absolutely dejected and embarrassed, not only for myself but for my District. And while I was sobbing uncontrollably, my mentor Jacklyn Payne came over and whispered in my ear to stop crying and go congratulate everyone in the room. And then she said something that has stuck with me to this day: “Act like a champion!” It made me realize how much success I had had up until that point, and that I should conduct myself in the proper manner and not feel sorry for myself. That has stuck with me to this day.

I was blown away by the hundreds of people that reached out afterward to tell me how my speech affected them, touched their hearts, or changed their minds.