ASISC Zonal Level Declamation Competition 2022-23

Sacred Heart Convent School

2 Aug 202204:47

Summary

TLDRThe speaker shares her journey from a challenging marriage at 18 to a life-altering accident that left her paralyzed. Despite societal perceptions, she found solace in birds and pursued a career as a TV anchor in Pakistan, challenging norms and advocating for women's rights. She humorously addresses the wage gap and the need for equal pay, highlighting International Women's Day and the importance of education for girls worldwide.

Takeaways

🌟 The speaker emphasizes the importance of viewing oneself as 'differently abled' rather than 'disabled'.
💔 The speaker's life was significantly impacted by a marriage arranged by her father and a subsequent accident that left her paralyzed.
🦅 The speaker found solace and healing in the presence of birds, symbolizing the power of nature to uplift the human spirit.
🎤 She decided to pursue a career in media, joining a national TV station in Pakistan as an anchor, showcasing resilience and determination.
🎓 The speaker was working and studying simultaneously, balancing her job in a women's clothing department with her academic commitments.
👗 An interaction at her workplace revealed societal curiosity and sometimes intrusive behavior towards individuals who appear different.
🤔 The speaker experienced an uncomfortable encounter where she was asked personal questions by a customer, highlighting the need for personal boundaries.
🏆 The customer's suggestion that the speaker could be the next Miss USA was met with disgust, indicating the speaker's disapproval of superficial beauty standards.
📢 The speaker imitates a feminist named Miss Lily Sink, using humor to address serious issues like the wage gap and the need for equal pay for women.
🌍 International Women's Day is highlighted as an important occasion to advocate for gender equality, but it is not an official holiday in the U.S.
📚 The script ends with a focus on education, emphasizing the 131 million girls who are in need of support, underlining the global importance of educational access for girls.

Q & A

What is the speaker's perspective on being disabled?
-The speaker views herself as 'differently abled' rather than disabled, emphasizing her abilities over her disability.
How did the speaker's life change after her marriage?
-Her marriage was unhappy, and after two years, she had an accident that resulted in paralysis, significantly altering her life.
What realization did the speaker have after her accident?
-The speaker realized that she needed to find healing and strength within herself, and she was particularly moved by the power of birds to heal the soul.
Why did the speaker decide to join the national TV of Pakistan as an anchor?
-The speaker decided to join as an anchor to overcome the feeling of being imperfect in a world that values perfection and to demonstrate her abilities.
How long has the speaker been working as an anchor on national TV?
-The speaker has been doing shows for the last three years.
What incident occurred at the woman's clothing department that the speaker found offensive?
-A woman approached the speaker and asked personal questions, such as if she was born in the country, had children, was married, and about her age, which the speaker found intrusive and offensive.
What was the woman's comment that the speaker found particularly offensive?
-The woman suggested that the speaker could be the next Miss USA, which the speaker found offensive and inappropriate.
What is the speaker's stance on International Women's Day?
-The speaker supports International Women's Day and uses it as an opportunity to advocate for equal pay for women in the workplace.
Why does the speaker mention the wage gap between men and women?
-The speaker mentions the wage gap to highlight the ongoing issue of gender inequality in the workplace, which she believes needs to be addressed.
What does the speaker find ironic about the U.S. not having International Women's Day as an official holiday?
-The speaker finds it ironic that the U.S. does not officially recognize International Women's Day but has an official holiday for a murderer named Christopher, indicating a societal value system she questions.
What is the focus of the speaker's message for International Women's Day?
-The speaker's focus is on education, highlighting the fact that there are 131 million girls who are not in school and advocating for their right to education.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Overcoming Adversity and Embracing Abilities

The speaker begins by addressing the common perception of disability versus their own perspective of 'differently-abled.' They recount their life-changing accident at 18 which left them paralyzed, and how they found solace in the healing power of birds. Despite societal pressures and the challenges of being 'imperfect' in a 'perfect' world, the speaker chose to pursue a career in media, becoming an anchor on national TV in Pakistan. They have been hosting shows for three years, demonstrating resilience and a positive attitude towards their abilities.

👗 An Unexpected Encounter and a Call to Feminism

In this paragraph, the speaker narrates an encounter in a women's clothing department where they were approached by a lady who made a series of personal inquiries, including about their nationality, marital status, and age. The lady's comment about the speaker being the 'most beautiful girl' she had ever seen was met with modesty. The lady then suggested the speaker could be the next Miss USA, to which the speaker reacted with disgust, highlighting their disapproval of such beauty pageants. The speaker then transitions into a monologue imitating Miss Lily Sink, a feminist, to celebrate International Women's Day, emphasizing the importance of fighting for equal pay and education for women.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Disability

Disability refers to a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities. In the video, the speaker mentions being called 'disabled' but prefers to identify as 'differently abled,' emphasizing a positive and empowering perspective on what society might see as a limitation. The theme of overcoming adversity and embracing one's abilities despite physical challenges is central to the narrative.

💡Accident

An accident is an unforeseen and unplanned event that can result in injury or damage. The speaker describes a life-altering accident that led to paralysis, which is a pivotal moment in the video's storyline. This incident is used to illustrate the transformative power of adversity and the subsequent personal growth that can emerge from such experiences.

💡Healing

Healing is the process of recovery or becoming healthy again, both physically and emotionally. The speaker discovers that 'birds have the power to heal your soul,' which metaphorically represents the idea of finding solace and recovery in unexpected places. This concept is integral to the video's message of resilience and the journey towards self-acceptance.

💡Imperfection

Imperfection refers to the state of not being perfect or having flaws. The video discusses the idea that people may feel unaccepted because they are 'imperfect' in a world that often values perfection. This keyword is used to challenge societal norms and to promote the acceptance of individual differences.

💡National TV

National TV refers to television broadcasting that is available across an entire country. The speaker's decision to join a national TV of Pakistan as an anchor person is a significant step in their journey of empowerment and visibility. It demonstrates the pursuit of personal goals despite societal expectations and the impact of disability.

💡International Women's Day

International Women's Day is a global event celebrated on March 8th each year to recognize the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. In the video, the speaker imitates a feminist named Miss Lily Sink, using humor to highlight the importance of this day and to advocate for gender equality, particularly in the context of the wage gap.

💡Wage Gap

The wage gap refers to the disparity in average earnings between men and women. The video addresses the wage gap as a critical issue that needs to be addressed for gender equality, emphasizing the need for equal pay for women in the workplace.

💡Feminism

Feminism is a social, political, and cultural movement that seeks to establish and achieve equal rights, opportunities, and treatment for women. The speaker, imitating a feminist, uses the platform of International Women's Day to advocate for women's rights, showcasing the ongoing struggle for gender equality.

💡Education

Education is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, and habits. In the video, the speaker focuses on the importance of education, particularly for girls, mentioning the statistic of 131 million girls who are not in school. Education is presented as a key to empowerment and a means to break cycles of poverty and inequality.

💡Self-Acceptance

Self-acceptance is the ability to embrace oneself, including one's strengths and weaknesses. The video's theme of self-acceptance is evident in the speaker's journey from feeling devastated after their accident to becoming a successful TV anchor and advocate. It underscores the importance of internalizing a positive self-image despite external challenges.

💡Adversity

Adversity refers to difficult or unfortunate circumstances. The speaker's story is one of overcoming adversity, from a challenging marriage to a life-altering accident. The video uses the concept of adversity to convey the message that such experiences can lead to personal growth and the formation of a stronger character.

Highlights

Emphasis on viewing oneself as 'differently abled' rather than 'disabled'.

The transformative power of life's incidents in shaping one's character.

Personal story of an unhappy marriage and a life-altering accident leading to paralysis.

The emotional devastation and questioning of 'why me?' after a life-changing event.

The healing power of birds and their symbolic significance.

Overcoming societal perceptions of imperfection by embracing one's unique abilities.

Aspiration to join national TV in Pakistan as an anchor despite physical challenges.

Experience of working in a woman's clothing department and an encounter with a customer.

The uncomfortable and intrusive questioning by a customer about personal life.

A compliment from a stranger that leads to an unexpected suggestion to compete in Miss USA.

Disgust and rejection of the idea to participate in a beauty pageant.

Impersonation of Miss Lily Sink, a feminist, to celebrate International Women's Day.

The importance of fighting for equal pay for women in the workplace.

Humorous commentary on the lack of an official International Women's Day holiday in the U.S.

Highlighting the need for education and awareness on International Women's Day.

Mention of the significant number of girls lacking education globally.