Page 37 - Keralite Magazine _2020

KERALITE  APRIL 20 20 35
platform to become better communicators and I wish to conclude with a leadership quote from one
leaders. I did have some previous experience with of the greatest coaches, Vince Lombardi - “Leaders
public speaking as I took a class in 8th grade. It had aren’t born, they are made. And they are made just
helped me with school projects and speeches, but like anything else, through hard work.”
there was still room for improvement. Once we
started YLF, I realized that not only did the program
help me get a better understanding of public
speaking but it also helped me value criticism, and
become a good listener. Lessons on gestures, voice,
and vocabulary have improved my speeches and
overall communication skills.
Rahul Prabhakar
As a way of giving back, I would like to help
students who are new to the program, develop their
speaking and leadership skills. Like Mr. and Mrs.
Durling, Mrs. Teza and Mrs. Orlando, I would like to
give inspirational and motivational speeches,
especially at future YLF sessions. I would like to Through the Kerala Club Youth Leadership Forum,
give pointers and interesting table topics when new we - Malayalee kids - get to come together to carry
students speak. Not only would this help them, but out leadership roles and make our voices heard.
this would also help me become a better mentor.
By imparting knowledge and experience, this
I am pleased that YLF is planning to participate in forum not only helps us become strong leaders,
charity programs. As a family, we are very much but also builds our strength and confidence in
involved in charity. I created a soon-to-become communication. We attain skills that are beneficial
non-profit organization called Valor In US, which to us throughout our lives.
stands for Veterans and Law Enforcement O cers
Resource In the United States. At school, we do We started o with Toastmasters and met weekly
Focus Hope deliveries and Adopt-a-Family donations for 7 sessions. All of us tried to present our
which provides gifts, funds, and essential items to speeches the best we could, and learnt to correctly
underprivileged families in Detroit, during the evaluate and give feedback. We picked up tips and
holiday season. Charity is very crucial in today’s tricks of public speaking including power words
society and starting at a young age is the best and gestures. This helped us lay a foundation that
possible option. Kerala Club does a very good job we could build on as we took on our roles in the
with charity as well. I vividly remember how our actual team. It helped us gain confidence, meet
parents organized the charity drive during the 2018 people, express our ideas, and come up with group
The Youth Leadership Forum, also known as YLF, is Kerala floods and helped raise over $90,000 to help thoughts together.
a program that is designed for 8th grade students the victims. Oscar Wilde once said, “The smallest
and high schoolers to help them prepare for college act of kindness is worth more than the grandest KCYLF is a wonderful forum for kids to come, meet
and future jobs. I was introduced to this idea during intention.” and work together to help others.
the 2019 Kerala Club Picnic by Arun Uncle, and at
first, I thought it was just another youth committee. Overall, YLF has helped me increase my self-
I agreed to join as I would be working with my confidence, overcome stage fright. The best part
Kerala Club friends. I hardly got to see them and I for me is that I’m doing it with my friends. The most
thought that learning something useful for my important lesson that I’ve learned through this
future, with my friends, would be interesting. wonderful program is that feedback is a gift and
Additionally, the program was providing us a getting it from your friends makes it more special. Seanna