How I Got Evaluated by My Own Evaluation—03 Aug 25

It was another afternoon I showed my head at the Gaveliers club. This time as a project evaluator, and I picked that role for the first time as a Toastmaster.

My speaker allotted was Gavelier Nirek (my little ‘ah counter’ trainee in the last meeting!).

So whenever I see little children, a proverb often strikes… “If not at 5, then not at 50”… Whatever greater quality it might be, it should be started early, and then it will be inherited forever by the child.

Gaveliers club makes such a supportive environment for the children — be it leadership or communication skills, or organising a committee, picking roles, Friends of the Committee (to make sure everyone is responsible — that’s really a great idea!).

So since it was my first evaluation, I wanted to make it extra special, so I carried a little plant with me.

When my turn came, I pointed to the little plant and said:

This little plant doesn’t need much other than a bit of sunlight and a bit of water. Since it is still small, it can be gently, easily moved to the sun to get some light or into the rain to get some water (“If not at 5, then not at 50!” was the inspiration behind), to shape it towards growth and slowly stretch out its vines.

Just consider — the little plant metaphorically represents Gavelier Nirek, and my evaluation will gently shape him towards growth.

You spoke on a perfect topic — The Role of the Internet.

The best part is that you didn’t read from a script — it felt natural and engaging.

You covered both the advantages and disadvantages of the internet.

You mentioned data usage, Google Maps, limiting games, and how you use the internet for your studies.

And the mighty takeaway was: “Don’t overuse the internet!” — that was powerful.

You wrapped it up with the line, “Too much work makes Jack a dull boy,” — a perfect closer!

Just a small suggestion: try to make better use of the stage space and extend your speech a bit more next time, as it’s a 5–7 minute slot, and you spoke for only 2 minutes and 21 seconds.

These were the evaluation points I gave to Nirek personally… fluently.

But when I tried to put it all on the stage, I was stumbling and fumbling — not completely blank, just trying to finish it without much embarrassment.

I felt it happens at times as a speaker — a lot in mind, nothing at mouth.

I even felt bad that I couldn’t add this — “Your speech is a perfect Fillet-O-Fish burger to my appetite” — on the stage.

But I remember… the art of thriving.

We might fall, but we thrive. We endure — only to become better and rise again.

Let’s get better next time.

And I’m happy to put it all in words now… Better healing!

If not at 5, then not at 50. So true!