There was a memorable moment in my secondary school days that I will never forget. It was the day I was chosen to represent my class in a debate competition. At first, I was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. On one hand, I felt honored that my teachers and classmates trusted me enough to carry such responsibility. On the other hand, I was nervous because I had never spoken in front of such a large audience before. The thought of standing on stage with hundreds of eyes watching me made my stomach tighten.
However, I accepted the challenge because I knew it was an opportunity to prove myself. From that day, I made up my mind to prepare adequately. I read widely on the topic, took down points, and carefully arranged my arguments. I rehearsed day and night, repeating my lines over and over until I could say them without looking at my notes. Sometimes, I would stand in front of the mirror, pretending to face the crowd, while at other times, I asked my friends to sit as my audience and point out my mistakes. Even my parent got involved, listening patiently and correcting my tone whenever I sounded too fast or too flat. Through these practices, I began to build confidence little by little.
Finally, the day of the competition arrived. The school hall was filled with students, teachers, and invited guests. The panel of judges sat at the front, their eyes sharp and serious, waiting to listen to every speaker. As I stepped forward to the podium, my heart raced so fast that I could hear the pounding in my chest. My palms felt sweaty, and for a moment I questioned whether I could really do it. But then I reminded myself of the effort, time, and energy I had put into preparation. I took a deep breath, smiled, and began to speak.
At first, my voice trembled slightly, but as I moved from one point to another, my fear melted away and confidence took over. My arguments were clear and reasonable, and my voice grew firm and steady. I could see heads nodding in agreement and hear faint murmurs of approval from the audience. That gave me more courage to continue. By the time I was delivering my conclusion, I felt completely in control. I ended with a strong statement, and for a second, the hall went quiet. Then suddenly, the hall bursted out in applause. The loud clapping, cheers, and shouts of excitement filled the hall. My classmates hailed me in joy, and to my amazement, the audience gave me a standing ovation. In that moment, all my nervousness disappeared, replaced by a deep sense of pride and fulfillment. I felt seen, valued, and appreciated in a way I had never experienced before.
When the results were finally announced, my team was declared the overall winner of the debate. To crown it all, I was named the Best Speaker of the Day. I could hardly believe my ears. My teachers congratulated me warmly, my friends lifted me up in excitement, and even people I did not know came forward to shake my hand. The recognition and applause made me realize that hard work truly pays off.
That experience remains one of the most remarkable highlights of my school life. It taught me the importance of courage, preparation, and perseverance. More than anything, it showed me that when you give your best, people will notice and appreciate it. That day, I learnt to stand tall and proudly say, “Applaud me.”
The image used is mine.