SENIOR SCHOOL
Lions Youth of the Year Program
Earlier this year I was lucky enough
to participate in the Lions Youth of the
Year Program, a unique initiative aimed
at encouraging diversity and community
involvement in our youth. The competition
is designed to encompass all areas of the
personality, with a large portion of marks
coming from an “impact in interview”
personality score, as well as leadership,
cultural skills, sport, charitable involvement,
academic performance and public speaking.
One of the first pieces of advice I was given
as I entered the competition was that every
competitor will value their experience in the
program regardless of their placing, and
this has definitely proven true in my case, as
my involvement has given me confidence in
areas that I had never considered to be my
strengths.
On competition day, competitors are
interviewed by the judging panel in an
informal and personal exchange. As well
as giving the opportunity to verify claims
made on the entry form, the judges ask four
general knowledge questions, each seeking
to gauge your awareness of current matters
whilst also testing your ability to express
opinions and views in a coherent and genuine
manner. Following this, the panel will usually
open up to general conversation, allowing
both sides to elaborate on previous ideas.
Following the interview (sometimes on
another day) is the public speaking section
of the competition. To begin, all but one
competitor is escorted out of earshot as,
one by one, we are faced with the dreaded
impromptu speaking section, wherein we
are presented with an unknown question in
front of a full hall and required immediately
to speak for two minutes. This is done twice
by each competitor, to the point that we
actually relish the opportunity to present
a five-minute prepared speech in the next
section of the event.
The program is structured around a
progressive finals system, with competitors
beginning at a local Lions Club and
advancing through District, Regional, State
and National finals if successful. Various
prizes are awarded along the way, with the
most prominent being an all-expenses-paid
holiday to the destination of the National
Winner’s choice as well as a group tour
around New Zealand for all winners of the
State final. Unfortunately for myself, I missed
out on either of these experiences as I fell
short in the State final, however I am still very
glad to have had the experience and have no
regrets along the way.
I was assigned, through Guildford, to the
Lions Club of Kingsley-Woodvale, where
the club president and YOTY National
coordinator Brian Williams gave me great
support in my journey through the program.
As well as expressing my deep appreciation
for the support from the club and its
President, I would like to thank Ms Bannister,
whom originally approached m H