August 04, 2025
This meeting explored the idea of forging one’s own path – rejecting societal expectations in favor of inner guidance. Four inspiring speeches brought this theme to life:
1️⃣ Gurjit Buxani defied stereotypes about her being a Punjabi, using those misconceptions as motivation to join Toastmasters and redefine perceptions.
2️⃣ Poy Yeung shared two pivotal moments where stage fright paralysed her – once in school and once at work. Determined to break free, she built up her courage to join Toastmasters.
3️⃣ Chester Chan reflected on a family trip where arguments erupted during a rushed departure. His intervention not only resolved the conflict but later inspired playful “fights” among relatives – teaching him to replace “fight or flight” with action rather than words.
4️⃣ Charlotte Leung paid tribute to a mentor who encouraged her early Table Topics participation. Years later, winning an International Speech Contest felt bittersweet without that mentor present – reinforcing her belief that “people will forget words but will remember how such words made them feel.”
Table Topics was once again led by the inspiring Stephanie Lau. The first speaker, Asta Lee, humorously recalled helping her dad place a high-stakes horse using her connection with her manager many, many years ago when horse racing was once considered a luxury. This inspired three guests to try out impromptu speaking too! Rain wrestled with choosing a “home” due to his multicultural upbringing across three countries. Harsh revealed his passion for mentoring youth through volunteering in university and Toastmasters. Sidney advocated focusing on growth over regrets, in spite of uncertainties of the future.
Each story celebrated self-discovery, resilience, and the courage to chart an authentic course – perfectly embodying the “pathless path” spirit.
• 🏆Best speaker: Charlotte Leung
• 🏆Best evaluator: Irene Cheng
• 🏆Best Table Topics speaker: Asta Lee
• 🏆Best Facilitator: Lavanya Ramesh
