⏱️ Don't Let Others Set Your Pace

Our meeting began with a warm welcome from Interim President Albert Yan, who invited guests to introduce themselves and share a new environment they have recently adapted to.
Guests shared stories of adapting to new cities, careers, learning experiences, and personal challenges—setting the stage for an evening centered on growth, change, and resilience.

Drawing inspiration from her experience working for a world-renowned jewelry brand, Michelle introduced the evening's theme, "Three Gems." June is uniquely associated with three birthstones—Pearl, Alexandrite, and Moonstone—each with its own distinctive qualities.

Pearls are formed gradually over time in the ocean, a reminder that growth often requires patience. Alexandrite is famous for changing color under different lighting conditions, symbolizing adaptability and transformation. Moonstone appears to glow from within and is often associated with renewal and self-reflection.

While these gemstones are very different, Michelle highlighted the common thread they share: growth, change, and looking within. She connected these qualities to the Toastmasters journey, noting that although each member follows a unique path, we all share the same mission—to grow as communicators, leaders, and individuals.

Kat shared how visualization helped her secure a major contract and navigate a successful business pivot during the pandemic. By staying focused on her goals and embracing new opportunities, she transformed challenges into growth.

Luzee reflected on a lifetime of independence—from supporting herself through school to overcoming personal challenges. Along the way, she discovered that true strength isn't doing everything alone, but knowing when to accept help.

💬 "Asking for help is not a signal that I can't do it, it's a signal that I don't have to."

Albert reflected on the pivotal decisions that shaped his journey from Taiwan to the United States. From taking a gap year that ultimately led to a full scholarship at USC to choosing a startup over a more established company, he consistently prioritized growth and opportunity over certainty. He also shared how leaving an unfulfilling job during a challenging market led to a better opportunity just days later.
His message: make choices aligned with your values, embrace uncertainty, and trust yourself to adapt along the way.

💬 “What lessons have you learned along the way, and what are you willing to share with the class?”

Ella explored how public art can strengthen communities, inspire connection, and create a sense of belonging. Through research and personal experience, she demonstrated how thoughtful design can positively shape the spaces we share.

💬 “Design doesn't exist in isolation, it exists in public space, in relationship to people, and in conversation with the world around it.”

Sheila shared lessons from leading GGTM's successful Open House, highlighting the planning, teamwork, and creativity required to bring a large event to life. She encouraged members to leverage real-world experiences when completing Pathways projects.

💡“Reuse projects you've already done—don't duplicate the effort.“

Table Topics Master Derick Le invited speakers to reflect on life's crossroads and the valuable "gems" they discover along the way. Through stories of adventure, career choices, personal growth, and unexpected opportunities, participants shared lessons that shaped their journeys.

🏔️ Agasthian — Tell us about a time you got completely lost or took a wrong turn. Where did you end up?
While hiking solo in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park, Agashtian became disoriented after venturing off a less-traveled trail during a sudden storm. The experience taught him how quickly conditions can change in nature and left him with a deep respect for preparation and the outdoors.

💼 Omar — What's a gem of advice someone has given you that stuck with you for years?
Omar shared advice from a mentor: take the first opportunity instead of waiting for the perfect one. Following that guidance led him to a role where he gained diverse experiences that helped shape his career.

🏆️ 🎯 Kai (Guest) — Describe a time you changed your mind about something important. What shifted you?
Kai reflected on overcoming his fear of failing publicly. By observing that many successful people achieve greatness despite setbacks, he learned to embrace failure as part of growth and development.

🐢 Kathleen — What's a lesson you learned the hard way that you'd pass to your younger self?
Kat shared that she would tell her younger self to slow down and be more present. Taking time to enjoy the process, she noted, leads to greater learning, satisfaction, and joy.

🚗 Noura (Guest) — Tell us about a small moment that turned out to matter far more than you expected.
A spontaneous decision to join two friends on a cross-country road trip became a life-changing turning point for Nora. The journey ultimately led her to San Francisco, a new career, and a new chapter in life.

🌎 Dennis — Tell us about a time you had to start over. What did you carry with you, and what did you leave behind?
Dennis recalled moving to the United States and rebuilding both his career and identity from the ground up. The experience strengthened his adaptability and taught him to embrace change.

🗣️ Johnson (Guest) — If you could instantly master one new skill overnight, what would you pick?
Johnson chose communication, emphasizing that the ability to clearly explain ideas and connect with others is often the key to success in both professional and personal life.

Agasthian praised Luzee's vivid storytelling, strong vocal variety, and engaging descriptions that brought her journey to life.

💡 He suggested sharing more about how her life and mindset have evolved today to strengthen the connection between past challenges and present growth.

Dennis commended Albert's relatable stories, strong opening hook, and clear lessons woven throughout his speech.

💡 He recommended adding more pauses, clarifying the third lesson, and making greater use of the stage for impact.

Omar praised Ella's confident delivery, clear voice projection, and thoughtful presentation on design and community.

💡 He suggested simplifying text-heavy slides and ending with a stronger recommendation to leave the audience with a clear takeaway.

Albert applauded Sheila's passion, audience engagement, and effective use of pauses throughout her presentation.

💡He encouraged her to share specific challenges and solutions from her project to make the lessons even more relatable.

💎 Evaluation Takeaway

Our evaluators highlighted a common theme: strong speeches combine compelling stories, clear structure, and authentic delivery. Small refinements—such as clearer conclusions, strategic pauses, and concrete examples—can elevate a good speech into a memorable one.

⏱ Timer (Dennis)
👏 Strong time management across the board! All speakers and role holders stayed within their allotted time, with only one prepared speech running slightly over.

🔤 Ah-Counter (Kathleen)
✨ Excellent fluency overall, with minimal use of filler words. A great reminder that a thoughtful pause is often more powerful than an "um" or "ah."

📖 Grammarian (Noe)
"Adaptability" emerged as a recurring theme throughout the evening, reflecting both the guest introductions and many of the speeches.
💬 Quote Highlights:
"Make decisions based on what is true for you." — Albert
"It's the energy we bring that makes a difference." — Sheila

Pop Quiz Master Irene Suwarno put members' listening skills to the test with five questions inspired by the evening's speeches and themes.

1️⃣ June's birthstones?
💎 Pearl, Moonstone & Alexandrite

2️⃣ Kat's company when discussing the power of visualization?
🍽️ Gourmet Events

3️⃣ Luzee's lesson from marriage?
🤝 Asking for help doesn't mean you have to do it alone

4️⃣ Why did Albert choose a startup?
🚀 Growth and impact over stability

5️⃣ Agasthian's national park adventure?
🏔️ Rocky Mountain National Park

🏆 Pass Score: 60/100

🏆 Best Prepared Speech: Albert Yan
🏆 Best Evaluator: Omar Sinada
🏆 Best Table Topics: Kai (Guest)
🎀 Icebreaker Ribbon: Luzee Bautista

🚀 Speech Marathon Night

Get ready for an evening packed with speeches! Our next meeting will feature a Speech Marathon, giving members extra opportunities to practice, complete Pathways projects, and gain valuable speaking experience.

📅 Wednesday, June 17, 2026 | 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, 235 Montgomery St, 7th Floor, San Francisco, CA

⚠️ No Table Topics this week — the spotlight will be entirely on prepared speeches and evaluations.

Whether you're speaking, evaluating, or cheering on fellow members, come ready for an inspiring night of growth, learning, and communication excellence!

Thank you to Michelle, our Toastmaster of the Evening; Derick, our Table Topics Master; and our speakers, evaluators, functionaries, members, and guests for making this week's meeting engaging, supportive, and inspiring. Your energy, insights, and willingness to participate are what make GGTM such a special community.