Encore 2020 – The Student Extravaganza!

Encore 2020- The student Extravaganza !

MAGIC by ROHAN RAVINDRA DTM

“With that, we come to the end of Encore 2020. I’d like to wish all of you a safe and happy year ahead. Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen.”

As I said these words, an odd mixture of accomplishment and relief flooded me. An event of the grand scale that we had been working on for over two months had come to a glorious end. I remember sitting back in my black office-chair, taking a moment to take in the extraordinary past few months.

It all began when the leadership noticed that almost a quarter of all clubs in D121 were college clubs. With such a strong involvement of college clubs in our District, it only felt right to give back to the college community and spread the word of Toastmasters to the entire college community in our jurisdiction. It was with this plan that Encore 2020 was conceptualized.

Encore 2020 was based on the two aspects that describe student life – competition and learning. With Debate, Impromptu Speaking, and Creative Writing Contests testing the fundamental skills required to succeed in today’s world, Encore 2020 had immersive educational workshops that would help students succeed in achieving their dream jobs.

With world-class speakers such as Dr Brillian S K, Dileep Choyappally, Deepak Justin, and Aniket Amdekar, and eminent Toastmasters leaders like Ushy Mohandas, Sudash Liyanage, and Sudha Balajee gracing the occasion, Encore 2020 seemed to be a hub of positivity and excitement on all the days of the contest.

As I mulled over the past few months, a strong belief was reinforced. Each role in Toastmasters in an opportunity to reflect and learn. Every volunteering role is designed to teach you something new – if you allow it. This role as an Event Chair was no different.

As an Event Chair, I had hands-on experience in choosing my team and motivating them (which broadly falls under HR), helping out with the budgeting (Finance), organising the event (Management), and promoting the event (Marketing). As cliched as it may sound, it really was an opportunity that helped me apply all those management concepts in real-life situations and learn many things that you can’t find in any textbook.

More importantly, I learned what type of leadership approach works best and had an opportunity to work with some of the best minds that lead the Toastmasters movement in our District. A desirable combination of learning from experts and experience – something I feel sums up the entire Toastmasters experience.

No amount of success can be achieved without the help of others who stand by you. Thank you, Nirmala Lilly, DTM, Vanitha Rangarajan, DTM, Savitha Salian, DTM, and all the District Officers for your trust and your passion towards this project. The student community and I are very grateful for your enthusiasm and support.

Thank you, Annie George, Nooh Siddiqui, and Shaivi Salian – my organising team for being the pillars of support on which Encore 2020 was created. It was your efforts that made the dream of Encore tangible and real.

I believe that what all of us – the District leaders and the organisers collectively created was magical. Magical for the contestants, the organizers, and the audience. I’m sure that every participant left Encore a little bit wiser, standing a little bit taller, and with fond memories that would bring a smile on their faces.

Thank you for the opportunity, District 121 and here’s to creating more magical experiences for the members in the future.