My talk at the Paradox's workshop

Vu has suggested that I write all my experience regarding public speaking, and my study progress and interaction with other students in the preparation class, and my application of the theory into the reality, so then I would have a little book of "How did Rosie learn to speak" to give away to readers. It was a very cool idea. So now I'm sitting here to note down my thoughts with the latest event: Paradox's workshop on traveling.

Tai, the guy who organised the event this time was an inexperienced university student. So I worked with him closely and gave him the info. & pictures for the power point and revised the agenda and added the contents plus questions for speakers and asked him the attendant lists. Just to make sure that the workshop would go well. I also invited bro Khoa to join the event as I thought his experience would benefit the audience.

And I came then early. I talked with Tai, I thought with Phuc, Paradox's chairman. Then I talked with the MC, and I had a look at the MC Script. Then I was astonished to see that the directing questions I gave Tai so that the MC could lead speakers into the topics were not there. Then I called Tai, and he explained that if the MC gave the questions it would be like a talk show more than a workshop. But I have attended other workshop before and the MC also needed to ask opened questions to navigate the talks to the planned topics. If the speakers just talked it through for 1,5 hours without the MC directing then it would be graceless and the audience would get lost.

So Phuc told me that he was searching again for the questions. And I gave him the questions I had downloaded before into my iPad. Then he told that he would lead the first part of the workshop with these questions as the MC was new and she might not be able to handle the talks well.

Then I was assured and went back to prepare my speech. And bro Khoa came, I had a little chat with him and with the power point operator to warm up at bit. Then music was on and people started to show up. And I swung my head and I took a nice breath. I felt comfortable with the atmosphere around and the music and the people. OMG, I looked at myself had a step back from the inside. When did Rosie start to like the event environment and meeting new people? Wasn't she the shy and isolating girl who wanted to spend most of the time indoor? I smiled at myself and whispered: Things changed so fast.

Then the workshop started with the first part of travel stories. And it was nice. I had no trembling moments. I was able to say what I needed to say, made them laugh and, say, inspired them a bit. I looked at the audience to the eyes with confidence and I really liked it. Seeing the young and lively faces, sharing my stories, giving the useful information. I felt I was doing all of this in my love for God, and I was there to serve these people. So I did the best I could.

Phuc did a great job to direct the show, cheering people up and leading the first part of the workshop really well. Bro Khoa also did not lose a beat in the talk.

The second part of travel planning was not as I expected, as I had to stand up and gave the presentation based on the slides. Although I felt that I could make the presentation more lively and made the audience laugh more, I also felt good and finished it well. Unlike the presentation at TAT's event, this time I felt the connection with the presentation, and only with looking at the pictures on the slides, I was able to remember all the details and talked through them nicely.

And bro Khoa didn't make me disappointed this time. Unlike the Jailbreak event, here he had more space to act. I realized that he also did a good preparation and he showed us all the person I used to know, humorous, generous, adorable and a naturally good man. Some girls wowed when he had the quiz games and gave away three lovely multipurpose scarfs. He totally won the audience. I felt good for him. I felt good about myself too, for inviting him.

With the discussion of the audience and the trial planning for their future trips, the workshop was a bit out of time and it ended pretty late, at 1PM. They even gave me 500,000 VND as a gift for speaker. But I gave it back to the club's fund. I only took the money from selling my 10 books. I was reluctant when Phuc asked me to bring the books to the event, as I just wanted to share and not make it a place to sell book. But I thought it through and said why not. Then it turned out to be good. People bought all and asked me to sign on their books. It was the first event that I brought my books with me to advertise.

Notes for the future events:

• Ask the event organizers to take the video clip of the talk. I asked this time but they seemed not to do it.
• Ask for all the necessary information: The attendant list, the agenda, the slides, especially the MC script.

OK that's it for now.

Thanks to Tai for inviting me to the event. Thanks Phuc to deal with the unexpected problem nicely. And so much thanks to em Vu.

I'm feeling so much grateful and happy.