A Tribute to Toastmasters

Of the many the great organizations and activities that I’m involved with at Terry, Toastmasters has been one of the most personally beneficial. Started as exclusively an MBA group, the club has grown to include students and even staff in a variety of disciplines. This is my second year in the club and I have noticed and received praise of a marked improvement in my public speaking and presenting skills through the practice I’ve gained at Toastmasters.

While I’ve always felt relatively comfortable with my public speaking ability, Toastmasters has enabled me to practice and receive constructive criticism and feedback in a relaxed and fun environment. I didn’t realize my use of verbal fillers and my tendency to fidget with my hands or lean on one hip. Now that I’m aware of these bad habits, I am constantly conscious of them, not just in speaking publicly but also in conversation in general. I’m also always on the lookout when others are at the podium.

For those of you already at Terry or UGA in general, check out our next Toastmasters meeting. This semester they’re held on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. in Sanford Hall, room 312. For those of you considering Terry, look into joining a local Toastmasters group. Public speaking and presentations are a huge part of earning your MBA and the more practice you have, the better.