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Tudhjot Kaur Jandu

My name is Tudhjot, and I have participated in the Hemkunt
Speech Symposium for 10 years. It has profoundly shaped
both my academic and professional career. Initially, I

struggled with public speaking, often mumbling through my
speeches, nervously adjusting my chunni, and shyly running off
the stage. Sounds like a waste of time, right?

However, those early experiences taught me invaluable
lessons from Sikh history, drawing from the inspiring Sakhis I
read about. I kept on participating in the competitions
deepening my understanding of Sikhi and steadily gaining
confidence onstage. Eventually, I could write a good speech,

get up on stage, speak with poise, use hand gestures, and
confidently walk off the stage. Unlike other students, I could
raise my hand in class without being shy. I was comfortable

speaking in front of the whole classroom.

Eventually, when I got to a professional setting, I was able

to articulate my ideas to my coworkers properly. I wanted to
take on more leadership roles because I was confident. Hemkunt provided the foundation for my

academic and professional success. Even now, I draw on my Hemkunt experiences, leveraging my
knowledge of Sikh history to inspire others and employing my public speaking skills to guide and
motivate those around me. In 2017, I won first place in the International Hemkunt Speech Symposium,
which was a surreal experience. In 2019, I won third place at the international level. The International

Symposium is a great event that the Hemkunt team hosts where participants get to meet many
different people and create a community with them.