Members

Apoorva Karra, Ph.D. Candidate Aerospace Engineering, Member Since Fall 2021

​

Why did you join UT Toastmasters?

To find my voice. To not feel shy when I am in the spotlight in internal or external meetings at workplace. To feel comfortable in my skin while I am communicating with people in a new country. To grow, push, transcend my limits and redefine my comfort zone.

​

How did you learn about UT Toastmasters and what was your first meeting like?

I vividly remember not being selected through rounds of interviews to become a part of speaking club and I was disappointed for a while when I was pursuing my Bachelor’s degree back in India. When I knew was that I must rise up to the challenge of speaking comfortably with various people outside UT as a part of research project during collaborations I had to explain my research in laymen terms. I remember being very nervous when people asked me questions or when I am supposed to introduce myself in one of meetings which is when I decided to work on myself and hence googled for a speaking club at UT and found UT Toastmasters.

 

My first meeting was fun. Everyone from varied abilities of speaking is putting themselves out there and the members were very encouraging of each other. And everyone is taking out their Friday evening to help each other grow and that to me felt very uplifting. I fell in love with the session format that begins with speeches, evaluation followed by impromptu speeches.

​

Why should people join UT Toastmasters?

People in their lives at some point must have felt uncomfortable expressing themselves or speaking very well about topics like explaining traditions of the home country to a new person who does not understand any of it. Also, be it socializing, or at the workplace, people need to feel very comfortable in the way they are and to express themselves (some have different accents, some speak fast, sometimes you do not know meaning of certain things and must not hesitate to ask). And it is not always easy to do that.

 

To find one’s voice, to convey the message in a crisp manner, to think on one’s feet spontaneously when one is put on a spotlight, to have fun and create humor in one’s conversations to make others feel comfortable and at ease, to bridge differences and to have awkward conversations, to learn and unlearn, to improve general knowledge and keep up with the current topics of the world and to be able to speak something about anything mindfully, to learn to lead. At the end of the day words help form human connections that touch, move, uplift, and help people grow. For all the above reasons one needs to join UT Toastmasters.

​

​

 

​

Jill Lagus, Ph.D Student, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, Member Since Fall 2021

 

Why did you join UT Toastmasters?

Totally unprepared for the transition from industry back into academia, I made it a goal to participate in student organizations until I found one that "felt like the right fit": 1) an activity outside my sciences and 2) a group with a growth-mindset. Although I practiced as a 'speech-language pathologist' at the time, I was certainly unlearned in public speaking. I found what I needed and wanted in our club-- the camaraderie is just a bonus.

​

How did you learn about UT Toastmasters and what was your first meeting like?

I found UTTM on the student organization website. I attended as a guest in about November of Fall 2021, expecting a lot of formality. But, everyone was chill.

​

Why should people join UT Toastmasters?

We believe in doing your absolute best, cheering each other on in the face of improvement and challenges, and no group can stand without friendship in tow.

​

We're currently made of a majority of (kind-hearted, strong-headed)  pre-med students, CS/engineering folk, and business majors who have hearts set on higher callings in education, industry, and service while taking on many responsibilities of current.

​

What is your favorite thing about Toastmasters?

People being very welcoming every single person no matter how good they are with their communication skills.

​

​

​

​

Hiro Mochizuki, MBA Student, Member Since Fall 2020

 

Why did you join UT Toastmasters?

Actually, I was confident about doing presentations in my mother tongue and I won several business plan competitions in Japan.  But in the US, I noticed that not only language problems but also some differences in rules in public speaking hinder my success in business. This club is so helpful even for international students to learn various stuff through kind feedback. That is why I decided to join this Toastmasters.

​

 

How did you learn about UT Toastmasters and what was your first meeting like?

I found it on social media. Surprisingly my first meeting was done online because it was in the Covid era. And I had to speak up in prompt speech, the question was so difficult for me but that was a good stimulation for me to feel necessity to improve my public speaking skills

​

 

Why should people join UT Toastmasters?

To meet exciting and highly motivated students here! Every speech made here is so insightful and exciting. After listening to these speeches, you feel the joy of learning and the impulse to improve yourselves.

​

 

What is your favorite thing about Toastmasters?

All members are so helpful and each of them have various expertise.

​