One of the many beauties of Toastmasters is witnessing shy people blossom into confident, courageous speakers. It’s a transformative journey we often celebrate in adults, but when you get to see this unfold in children or youth especially cadets preparing to one day command their own ship, stage, or boardroom, it takes on a whole different kind of magic.

This is the story of a group of cadet youths I fondly call my mic-drop miracles.

Over several weeks between January through April, I had the privilege of facilitating a Youth Leadership Program (YLP) for cadets from the Captain Jackson Corps. These were not seasoned speakers. In fact, many of them stepped into our first session visibly nervous, avoiding eye contact, and clutching their notes with trembling hands. But slowly, session after session, something beautiful happened, they began to find their voices.

I must confess, when I first signed up to deliver this project, I had a tangle of fears gnawing at me. I was anxious about whether I could engage these youth effectively, especially in a world where competing with screens and short attention spans has become a real challenge. Would they connect? Would they find value? Would I deliver an experience worth remembering?

I didn’t have to wonder for long.

Thanks to an incredible team of volunteers and supporters, those fears were quickly replaced by excitement and pride. A big shout out to Christina Kruis, DTM, Marshall Ennis, DTM, Russ Dantu, DTM, Irma Goosen, DTM, & Lovelin Johnson. Toastmasters is many things, but above all, it’s a community, and this project was a shining example of what happens when passionate people rally together. There’s something special about being in a room where encouragement is not just heard, but felt.

Then came the grand finale, our Showcase. The air was electric. Parents, officers, and Toastmasters filled the hall as our young leaders stepped up to the stage, delivering group speeches with poise, humor, and heartfelt authenticity. There were a few teary eyes, and yes more than a couple of mic-drop moments.

To top it all off, we had the incredible honor of welcoming our District 42 Director, Daisy Wei, to the Showcase. Her presence wasn’t just a highlight of the event, it was a powerful statement about the value our District places on nurturing leadership at every age. As a special touch, she personally hand-signed each participant’s certificate, giving these young leaders a keepsake, they can proudly include in their future resumes and leadership portfolios.

I would be remiss if I don’t extend a heartfelt thank you to my home club, Fluor Communicators, for generously sponsoring our Showcase. Their support made it possible to host an event worthy of these incredible cadets, from the venue setup to the certificates and refreshments that added a special touch to the day. Thank you, Fluor Communicators, for believing in the next generation of leaders and helping to make this memorable experience possible.

In the end, this wasn’t just a Youth Leadership Program, it was a community experience, a confidence incubator, and a living, breathing example of the Toastmasters promise: to empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders.

To the team, thank you. This would have been impossible without you. And to my mic-drop miracles, you’ve left a mark on my heart. The world better watch out, you’re just getting started.