Defining Moment Speech

Defining Moment Speech Outline - Raymond Tong
Attention Getter: When you think of your sibling, you usually remember bratty, snarky remarks about each other or light pinching. For the most part though, even if you are reluctant to admit, your relationship with your sibling is pretty good. However, my relationship with my brother had a rocky beginning.
Transition/Claim: All throughout the early stages of my childhood, I resorted to violence when my brother and I disagreed on something; it was only when we took it too far that I saw the error in my ways. From then on, I’ve become metacognitive.
Example 1:
My brother, William, had really sharp teeth as a toddler. He’s 2 and a half years younger than me, and we bear many resemblances. Both of us have short, spiky hair, a round face, and a preference for dark humor.

I’m fine knowing he’ll always be the baby of the family; after all, it’s natural for the youngest child to be the center of attention. As for me, I learned offer words of encouragement instead of constantly tearing him down.
Food was once a divisive issue for us. Forks and chopsticks became swords and spears at the table; battling for dominance over God’s gift of sustenance to us. But now, when my brother and I both reach for the same dish at the dinner table, I usually gesture for him to go first. The way we used to fight over meat is now something we laugh about.
In general, I’ve stopped using violence as a way to solve our issues. I get frustrated, sure, but instead of relying on impulse, I rely on the logic of “who cares?” to guide my decisions.
I’ve always cared for my brother. Always. But until our biggest fight, I hadn’t realized just how much I cared. Our relationship could have continued as it had; hostile and full of envy and anger, but I think I like it better this way. Reconciling my relationship with my brother has shaped me into a more thoughtful version of