It was Dec 23rd, 2011. Kiran is traveling to her home town Faridabad. Dec 24, she would reach her home town to celebrate her birthday. Still half an hour to go, She fastened her backpack to shoulders and sat near the door. Two miscreants pulled her back jumping on the platform. Kiran tried to pull the bag back, but was herself slowly pulled towards the door. In this process, her left leg got stuck in between the moving train and platform. Kiran woke up after a day only to realize that she can’t feel her left leg. She cried over and over but none, not even GOD cared. She still can’t feel her left leg. But then, news of 2012 Paralympic Games caught her attention. She decided to run.
In 2014, Kiran ran her 6-Km Dream Run at Mumbai Marathon with one leg and one blade. She became first women blade runner of India. Till now, she ran half Maratahns and Pink Marathans. She is now preparing for 2020 Paralympic Games. One of her dream is to run and win a medal for India.
A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work – Said by Colin Powell.
Fellow Toastmasters and friends,
I believe, as children, we visualized either becoming of mathematics teacher on children day or to play cricket without knowing nighty-gritty of cricket. I too, as a young kid wanted to compete on an Independence Day speech contest in the school. Till 8th class, I never attempted a speech on any occasion. When I first imagined myself, attempting and winning the speech contest, it was an amazing feeling. On that day, when I walked on to the stage, I could see 100 odd curious faces looking at me. My heart started pumping more blood than usual. More blood consumed my words that I am about to utter. I didn’t know what I spoke on that day.
Boom… Everyone is laughing at me and I just ran away from the stage.
The only thing that will stop you from fulfilling your dreams is you.– Tom Bradley.
Yes, it is true. I never attempted a speech in the school or college after that embarrassing moment. From that moment on wards, I was afraid of giving speeches and never gave. To eliminate that fear, I joined Toastmasters in 2013, I got to know about different speech contests. That incident still haunted me and I always said to myself “I am not ready” or “I need more time” or “I don’t have a story”.
In 2015, with my area governor Sneha push, I attempted impromptu speech and failed.Next month, when I attended the area contest after my failure, that contest had one guest speaker. She came onto the podium and said I ran 6-Km Dream Run at Mumbai Marathon. She was none other than Kiran.
That day, listening to her speech,I cried. Remembering that quote “The time is always right to do what is right ”, I wrote my International speech contest speech for 2016. I started giving the speech in different clubs and took feedback from different toastmasters. In Feb, 2016, I attempted the same speech after lot of improvements in my Accenture club International speech contest. I won the Accenture club contest. That day, my dream came true. The Dream, which I dreamed in 2003, became a reality in 2016. I won a small battle. But to win the bigger battles, friends, first we need to win these smaller battles.
A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work - Colin Powell.
What is your Dream my friends?
Presented the speech at Quest Toastmasters, Hyd and Elan Toastmasters in Mar 2017. This is my final CC10 Project.
Pic credits: Elan Toastmasters meeting, Mar 2017
