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Dec 30, 2016
Undergraduate / "The Fainter" - Undergrad supplemental essay about a challenge [3]
Tell us about the most significant challenge you've faced or something important that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation? (200-250 words)
My energy levels began plummeting, my vision started to blur, and my eyes slowly closed themselves. Seconds later, I woke up in the arms of the security officer.
Despite having spent weeks doing all my research work, I blacked out in front of forty delegates in the Food Security Commission at regional MUN. Within minutes, the news had spread throughout the whole school and even my friends began calling me "The Fainter". However, the horrible humiliation I faced that day did not push me to quit public speaking. Instead, I was more than ever determined to overcome my fear to face an audience again.
During the upcoming winter holidays, I joined the Plateau Toastmasters Club. Through a series of prepared and impromptu speeches, along with the unflinching guidance of the club coaches, I absorbed several techniques as I gradually learnt how to use brainstorming to guide my direction, vary my vocal tone and body language, and make pauses to keep the audience focused. I spent days and nights practicing and day by day, my oratory skills starkly improved while I gained even more confidence in myself.
The day of the nationals finally came. After three grueling days of intense public speaking and debating, I still did not win any award, but I knew I had given my best and I knew I had improved. Awards did not matter, getting over the humiliation and overcoming my greatest fear was what important.
Tell us about the most significant challenge you've faced or something important that didn't go according to plan. How did you manage the situation? (200-250 words)
"The Fainter" and the ToastMasters Club
My energy levels began plummeting, my vision started to blur, and my eyes slowly closed themselves. Seconds later, I woke up in the arms of the security officer.
Despite having spent weeks doing all my research work, I blacked out in front of forty delegates in the Food Security Commission at regional MUN. Within minutes, the news had spread throughout the whole school and even my friends began calling me "The Fainter". However, the horrible humiliation I faced that day did not push me to quit public speaking. Instead, I was more than ever determined to overcome my fear to face an audience again.
During the upcoming winter holidays, I joined the Plateau Toastmasters Club. Through a series of prepared and impromptu speeches, along with the unflinching guidance of the club coaches, I absorbed several techniques as I gradually learnt how to use brainstorming to guide my direction, vary my vocal tone and body language, and make pauses to keep the audience focused. I spent days and nights practicing and day by day, my oratory skills starkly improved while I gained even more confidence in myself.
The day of the nationals finally came. After three grueling days of intense public speaking and debating, I still did not win any award, but I knew I had given my best and I knew I had improved. Awards did not matter, getting over the humiliation and overcoming my greatest fear was what important.
