How I Came to Be Here

(Introduction: Join me on a journey of self-discovery as I share my personal story as an ice-breaking speech in my toastmaster meeting. From a shy child to taking control of my own life, this speech is a reflection of my journey)

Good evening fellow toastmasters and honored guests!

When I was a little girl, I always dreamed of leaving my hometown to see the wider world. Tonight, in this speech, I’ll look back on my life journey, and share the story of how I came to be standing here before you.

Growing up, I was what many would call a “good child” — well-behaved at home and school, never getting into trouble, and always bringing home good report cards. Despite being one of the class leaders, I was naturally shy: making announcements in front of the class made me feel bashful. My parents played a major role in my early life, making decisions for me on important matters like education and career choices. Yet deep down, I always longed for the day when I could take control of my own life.

After two years graduating from university, I made my first important decision in my life.  I resigned from my job in the state-owned company and went to Shenzhen to pursue a possible career change.  My major in university was mechanical engineering, something I was neither interested nor good at.   In Shenzhen  I jumped from one job to another, and eventually realized I needed to have professional skills  to be more competitive, so  I started learning Accounting by myself, after years of hard work, passed all the challenging examinations and  got the CPA  certificate. Just as I was ready to start my new career, I heard about the opportunities of immigrating to Canada.  At that time I was already married to my university classmate.  Without much hesitation, we submitted our application.  One year later, we came to Canada.  This was the second important decision I made in my life.  

After we settled down in Toronto, my husband pursued his MBA while I worked to support him. Fortunately, with the accounting knowledge I had gained in China, I soon found a job as a bookkeeper after completing a short training program. Before long our two boys were born one after the other, and life was getting busier. When I gained more experience, I decided to work as a freelance bookkeeper, serving different small businesses. This choice provided the flexibility I needed to balance work with caring for my family. 

I must say I enjoyed the simple yet peaceful life I had built in Canada. I like Canada! There are a lot I cherish here:  the blue skies, the bright sunshine, the warm smiles from strangers, the understanding when people say “you don’t have to if you are not comfortable”. 

As my children grew older, I finally had more time for myself. I started spending  more time reading, exercising, and connecting with friends! I found these activities not only brought me joy but also broadened my perspective. 

However, as I reflected on my life, I realized something important: while I had been busy taking care of my family, I had neglected my own growth all these years. I had grown too comfortable and avoided challenges. For example, public speaking had always been a weakness of mine, but instead of addressing it, I purposefully avoided it.

But as Scott Peck, the author of The Road Less Traveled, says: “Problems don’t go away. They must be worked through, or they remain forever as barriers to the growth and development of our spirit.” Public speaking has been my barrier since childhood, discouraging me from time to time. I know it would always hold me back unless I made a conscious effort to overcome it.

So, I made another important decision in my life: to conquer my fear of public speaking by joining Toastmasters. While it may have taken me a long time to get here, I’m glad I finally made it. Tonight, as I stand here, I feel ready to take on this new challenge in my life.