The Self Introduction

October 31, 2019

After our short “get-to-know-each-other” with the moderator Anna Coren, we all made a quick trip to the ladies’ room. Anna was first, followed by the speakers from each ASEAN country.
I went twice. And thrice. And one more.

The morning’s summit was scheduled at 9 am but it started late.   We started at least a half-hour late. While waiting, I felt the urge to go to the restroom again, and again. I managed to go to the nearest restroom a few minutes before the discussions started. Michelle Cheo, the CEO of MEWAH International told me we just came from the restroom and now I was going again.

Our chair assignment was arranged alphabetically by country.
During the short briefing, Anna said she would call us according to the country, Brunei would be first, then Cambodia, and so on…

The panel speakers were called to the stage one by one.

The time allotted for this session was two hours, supposedly from 9 am to 11 am.
As soon as I sat down facing the audience, I noticed the huge timer facing the speakers and Anna Coren. I felt like I was watching an NBA game.

Anna prepared a set of questions or topics as her guide. I saw most of my co-speakers holding sheets of paper, most likely their notes or prepared answers. I only had my phone which I placed on the table beside the microphone.

Brunei sat on the chair next to Anna Coren.
I was hoping I would be the first one to be called to introduce myself so I could get it out of my system. When I was still a student, I always wanted to be the last one to be called by the teacher, but in this case, I wanted to be the first one. I would get nervous if I would be sitting and waiting to be called. My mind would wander and I would lose my focus. And that’s exactly what happened.

The self-introduction started with Brunei being the first according to the alphabet, then followed by Cambodia, then by Indonesia. By the time it reached Lao PDR, I already forgot my name. I was looking at the audience, the klieg lights, the dozens of photographers and videographers. CNN’s huge cameras. And I kept looking at the huge clock screaming at me.

According to the guide, we would be given 2 to 3 minutes to introduce ourselves. That’s long. That was my first problem. I was not prepared to be a Summit speaker. I didn’t prepare a nice intro of myself. And I didn’t want to mention anything that would be construed as self-promotion.

I wish I have a long name like that of the princess of Thailand. Her full name is Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati Kromluangrajasarinisiribajra
Mahavajrarajadhita. That alone would consume two minutes already. Mine is too short. It would only take two and a half seconds, then what would I say after that?

That morning, so I don’t forget my name, I actually typed a few notes on my phone, a short introduction of myself. When it was already my turn to speak, I wanted to look at my phone because out of my eagerness to be the first one to speak, I had a mental block. I forgot my name. No kidding.

At that moment I validated my suspicion that I probably have an Attention Deficit Disorder.