GEPIMA 2014

GEPIMA stands for Gerakan Persatuan Belia India Muslim Malaysia.

This event brings together students from various madrasahs from all over Malaysia. There were a lot of madrasahs from Selangor, Terengganu, Johor and several from Penang. This is the 15th time this event is being held and it is held in different venues every year. This year it was held at Wisma Belia AMYC, Jalan Syed Putra,KL.

Just got off the bus

This year, there were over 400 participants. Tough competition :O

The events held are Tilawah Al-Quran, Religious talk (ceramah agama), religious quiz (kuiz agama), memorization of surahs (hafazan), short drama and nasyid.

The ceramah agama, quiz agama, short drama and nasyid were held in 4 different languages.

I'll skip most of it and head to the good part : my speech.

First up was the speeches in Tamil language. Hafiz, from my madrasah was the first to talk. He was so nervous but he had already done the same thing the previous year, and won third. I'd say, not bad for a 13-year old to come up and talk like that.

Then came the speeches in Malay.

Quite a lot of the contestants forgot their lines halfway through. I'll tell you how to not forget your lines and calm your nerves down before talking in front of people. This is coming from an introvert.

Just before I started, the organizers were setting up a new mike and sound system and I was the first to try it out !! Wheee XD
Not only that, the judge also said that those who look at their audience and give eye contact would be given extra points. THANK YOU SIR !

My voice was a bit shaky at first, and then I went droning on and on.. I did forget my lines, especially the Quran verses and got my lines all mixed up towards the end. Thank God, I managed to cover it up! I'll post up the video of me talking, but it was cut short by a minute ( I do not know why, ask my father about it ;))

Fast forward to the next day...

I had a good feeling about today. I carried myself with an air of confidence and anxiety.


The day kicked off with a drama performance my Madrasah Tahfiz Al-Hira, Klang. Then came the prize giving ceremony.

My heart was beating, thumping so hard it could have come out of my mouth anytime !  First, they were mentioning the names of those who came third for all events, followed by second and then first.

Third ? Done and over...
Second? Done...
First...

Bagi acara ceramah agama, kategori Bahasa Tamil, dimenangi oleh adik Hafizuddin. WHOOH ! The first first prize our madrasah won.

Then...

Bagi acara ceramah agama, kategori Bahasa Inggeris, dimenangi oleh adik Thahirah binti Ashiq. Oh my God, alhamdulillah ! I was so anxious till I was squirming in my seat. Butterflies traveled all the way from my tummy, to my feet and to my head. I was grinning from ear to ear.

This was something. It made my mum very very happy as I got a prize for my madrasah and myself within 5 months of learning under this Ustad. I came down from the stage and thanked him and Roshna akka (she hates it when I call her aunty). It wouldn't have worked out this well, without their guidance and of course, mum and papa

I got my stage fright under control, for now. It needs some fine tuning.

With my really heavy trophies

The dude behind me, standing, is Hafiz. He won for ceramah agama in Tamil language.

With our dear Ustaz :)