Introduction
It is not everyone’s cup of tea to do great things at a young age, but Prabhal, a talented student from Mumbai, has proved this. With his confidence and hard work, he recently won the International Student Speaker Competition and made everyone feel proud.
How did he feel after winning?
When the interviewer asked Prabhal what his reaction was when he found out that he had won the contest, he smiled and said,
“I was very happy and excited. I never expected that I would win above third graders.”
His honesty and innocence were clearly visible.
His Speech Topic
Prabhal’s speech was not an ordinary topic, it was very close to his heart. He spoke about his role model, i.e. his father. His father always taught him that one should never accept defeat.
He remembers when he was surfing with his father in Sri Lanka, even then he said, “Don’t be afraid.” He said the same thing while sitting on the roller coaster. These small things always motivated him.
Who helped you the most?
Prabhal said that his mom helped him the most in preparing for his speech. They both used to practice together in the room and hall. His mom also told in the interview that she took this contest as a learning experience. She wanted Prabhal to speak naturally, use expressions, gestures and go on stage with confidence.
How did he handle stage fear?
Prabhal was a little nervous before going on stage, but his thinking was very positive. He said, “If I forget something, it doesn’t matter, I will try again next time.”
Favourite Moment
His favourite moment was the final recording, in which he felt that he could win.
Dreams and Hobbies
Apart from public speaking, Prabhal loves boxing. He also dreams of winning a prize in it.
Message for other children
He encourages other children to definitely participate in competitions. In his words, “This increases confidence, even if you don’t win, it doesn’t matter, try your best.”
Conclusion
The story of Prabhal teaches us that there is no hindrance in small age if you have hard work, confidence and family support. With his hard work, mother and father’s support and positive thinking, he showed that anything is possible. Winning is not the only important thing, learning and improving yourself is the biggest victory. Every child should move ahead with the thought that apart from winning or losing, trying is the most important thing.
Watch Prabhal’s full interview on being the GEMA International Student Speaker Winner here.