They deserve respect by Allen Lockington

Submitted by AllenL on Sat, 28/08/2010 - 6:51am

THE Hibiscus Festival contestants all deserve respect. Answering impromptu questions is not easy. Even the best orators have had stage fright or stumbled. For many contestants this is their first time facing a huge audience and speaking live on television. It's not easy to stand up in front of people. I have been to many workshops. At one managers stumbled through their presentation, one refused to do his and another was dead drunk when he did his. All our presentations were ten minutes long and videotaped to take away. When I played mine, I was stunned to hear what I said and that I fidgeted most of the time and went around in circles. The lecturer said it was like I was doing the two-step, backwards and forwards.

I have learnt from that and moved on. The Hibiscus Festival will be a stepping stone for all participants. After the show they can look back, watch their presentations and answers, learn and move on to be better. Even the best prepared will have butterflies in their tummies. All we can do is to give the contestants the support they deserve. In the end, all of them will be winners given what they have learnt, made new friends, learnt new things, and been part of the Mother of all Festivals.

And over all Fiji we will have a few more citizens who can do better for themselves. Glitches happen in all things in life. Learn from them and get better. To all taking part, thank you. And just a thought, to save time could all questions be asked twice?