Page 9 - 2015.11.Voices

NS UP AT FALL CONFERENCE

Interview with Yoshiko Okamura

Q: What were your feelings as you won each level of the contest, club, area, division,
district? Share with your fellow members how you felt and what helped you win?

Yokko: Club level - I was lucky that I had funny stories that were so much a part of my
life. I spoke from my heart rather than from my mouth. The competition was a thrill.
Winning gave me a sense of accomplishment.

Area level - One of my mentors gave me lots of positive feedback and suggestions
to make my speech funnier and more memorable. Another mentor kept telling me
that all I needed was just to have fun. The excitement of winning fueled me to strive
for better.

Division level - At the contest, the presence of my club members to support and cheer for me gave me a sense of
purpose. I wanted to give seven minutes of enjoyment to them to show my appreciation. When the winner was
announced, I was speechless and shocked. I couldn’t figure out what had just happened for a while. The other
contestants were all such excellent speakers.

District level - Patrick, because of you, I won. You told me the importance of mental training and visualization. I
walked up on the stage and glanced at the audience before I started speaking. I had confidence, which I had never

had before. I didn’t win. We won. My words could not express how much I appreciated all of
the help, support, and encouragement that I got from my fellow members.

Q: I want our readers to understand the power in engaging the system. Share with us how
you feel you engaged the system and how the system helped you be a winner?

Yokko: I was afraid of speaking in public. The best way to overcome my fear was to face
it. Eight months ago, when I visited a few clubs to check out Toastmasters, I was asked
to participate in Table Topics. I struggled through, but the club members thanked me for
speaking and gave me encouraging words at the end. I quickly learned that it was a safe
place to face my fears. In addition, evaluations by fellow members, that consist of plenty of
positive feedback with insightful suggestions, have improved my speaking skills without
shattering my self-esteem. Being an evaluator has also made me a better listener and, in
turn, a better speaker.

Q: How do you see everyone gaining from this experience of a contest?

Yokko: By speaking only at our club meetings, we become very comfortable with the familiar
faces and surroundings. By entering the Humorous speech contest, I realized how much
a new setting affected my mental state. Giving a speech in front of new faces, and at an unfamiliar place was
intimidating. I thought I was going to pass out while I was waiting for my turn at the Division contest. Surprisingly,
I handled it so much better at the District contest. New environments are less of an issue now. We can do a lot more
than we think. The only way to find out is to try.

Yokko attended college and flight school in San Diego where she met her husband Tony. He is also a pilot. They
moved to Vancouver 20 years ago to fly for Horizon Air. She is still with the same company. Yokko says, “I love my job
and I love to fly.” She pilots a relatively small airplane. Many of the destinations are small cities near national parks.
Because they fly at relatively low altitudes, Yokko loves the amazing views from the flight deck. With average flight
times of one hour and frequent takeoffs-and-landings Yokko believes they are perfect for an energetic person like
her. On her days off, she can be found working out and preparing a great meal. But, she still gets that urge to fly. I
guess she’s a workaholic having some fun! Congratulations on winning the Humorous Speech Contest.

Volume 2 Issue 5 - NOVEMBER 2015 9