The DTM Journey & Motivation

I hesitated to even attend a Toastmasters session at first because I did not really understand what it was about. One day, CC Hagerie Woldie took me to a meeting at Imperial Toastmasters Club, and that experience changed my mind. In my eyes, everyone was gracious and spoke with poise. Additionally, DTM Ethiopis gave a testimonial speech during my first meeting at toastmasters. So, that is what made me decide to become a member.

One of the most challenging projects I did was Speechcraft. I had to look for people who might be interested in joining Toastmasters and benefit from it, which was not easy. After asking for help from different Toastmasters, the president of my club at that time, TM Enanu Makonnen, helped me with recruiting Speechcrafters, and other members supported me by taking roles during the sessions.

From that experience, I learned that leadership is not about doing everything by yourself. It is about asking for help, working with others, and trusting people to support you because I wouldn’t have been a DTM without completing it.

I remember delivering my 10th speech from the legacy manual, which was the speech I needed to complete my CC. My speech was about authenticity, but in the middle of it, my mind went blank. I really wanted the floor to open up and swallow me, but it did not. I managed to finish the speech.

After the session, TM Tigist Eshetu, CC Hagerie Woldie, and ACB Sophia Bellete were calm and still pointed out the things I did well. That day taught me that good leaders do not focus only on your mistakes. They help you see what you did right and encourage you to keep going.

I am usually always on my phone, and it is rare to see me without it. But in Toastmasters meetings, I put my phone down and actually listen to people. It is one of the few places where I am fully present, and it reminds me to exist without distractions.

I studied Industrial Engineering, but now I work as a Communications and Administrative Officer. One of the main reasons I got this position is because of my journey in Toastmasters. It helped me build confidence and communicate better. And trust me when I say this, I was a terrible communicator.

Being open to feedback is very important. Understanding that feedback is there to help you improve and actually applying it makes a big difference. So I would say the most important skill is learning how to accept and use feedback.

Take as many assignments as you can. Swek guidance from your mentor and follow your schedule. Also, do not be afraid to try something new once in a while. The Toastmasters system will help you improve naturally if you stay consistent.

I believe most people join Toastmasters because they want to become better leaders and communicators. So even when you do not feel like it, do not give up. Keep working toward your DTM. It is worth it.

For me, it means that having a title does not mean you know everything. Becoming a DTM showed me how much I still need to improve and how much I can learn from others. I try to live the principles of Toastmasters in my daily life by being respectful, supportive, having integrity and always trying to improve.

If I ever stop being a Toastmaster, it would probably be against my will. It is a place where I feel inspired after every session and where I always want to do more. I plan to keep growing and also help others in their journey, just like others helped me.

Sleeping. It is my favorite way to reset. When I feel overwhelmed, I sleep, and most of the time things feel better when I wake up.