My personal journey with Canterbury Communicators
Have you ever made one small decision that quietly changed your whole life?
I have.
And it started with four simple words:
“I joined Toastmasters.”
If I had to divide my life into two chapters, I would simply say:
Before Toastmasters… and after Toastmasters.
Before Toastmasters, I was shy. I lacked confidence. I often felt that life was difficult and, at times, quite miserable.
But after Toastmasters, something changed. I became more confident. More courageous. More willing to step outside my comfort zone. And somehow, life became wonderful.
Before Toastmasters, my career was stuck.
My motto was:
“I am just a little Chinese woman.”
And I know what you are thinking:
“But you are still a little Chinese woman!”
Yes, I am!
But this little Chinese woman has achieved something that might not be so little.
My career has moved forward several levels. I have become a leader, and I have earned the respect of the people I work with.
But perhaps the biggest surprise has been writing.
Like many people here, English is not my first language.
I never imagined that I could use English to express myself well, let alone discover that I could actually write.
I still remember my Ice Breaker speech.
It took me four weeks just to write it.
Then I spent another two weeks practising in front of the mirror and in front of my husband.
Eventually, I called Marta, one of the founding members of the Canterbury Communicators.
“Hi, Marta. I think my Ice Breaker is ready. Can I practise with you?”
“Of course, Kay. Of course.”
So, there I was, standing in a car park, holding my phone and reading my speech to Marta.
She pointed out many things I had done well, much to my surprise.
Then she gave me just two tips to improve.
My confidence suddenly received a huge boost.
A few days later, we practised again, and she gave me two more tips.
Finally, after eight weeks of preparation, my Ice Breaker came to life on this very stage.
And I discovered something I never expected:
I am actually good at writing!
And I'm not even particularly good at writing in Chinese!
That discovery took me on a whirlwind journey.
I am so excited to share that I have written a book called "The Ingredients for an Ironman".
I sent it to many publishers. Most publishers did not bother to reply.
Then, one day, I was sitting on the train and checking my email.
I spotted an email from Olympia Publishers.
I clicked it open and read:
“Your work is well-written, and it deserves a chance to reach the general readership.”
I jumped out of my seat and almost dropped my phone!
And guess what?
The book is coming out on the 31st, October.
I could not have achieved this without the encouragement of the club.
Through writing this book, I have realised something important.
Sometimes, one door opens and behind it are many more doors.
We never know how far one small step can take us.
Writing opened a door for me.
And suddenly, my world became much bigger.
I reached out to people I used to look up to - people I once thought were completely beyond my reach.
Then I took another bold step.
I applied for a writing course at Cambridge.
And I can now share with you:
I was accepted! By Cambridge - my dream university since I was a little girl.
Toastmasters did not simply teach me how to speak.
It taught me to see possibilities.
It taught me to raise my hand. To knock on doors.
To say:
“Why not me?”
I used to think I was just a little Chinese woman, living within a very small world.
Now I realise: The world is my oyster.
And it all started with one small step.
So, let me ask you this:
What is one small step you could take today?
If anyone reading this would like to take a leap in their life, your local toastmaster club is a place to go.
I am a life coach, author, breathwork facilitator, and public speaker. My book is "The Ingredients for an Ironman", published with Olympia Publishers.
Canterbury Communicators meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Canterbury College. The book launch and breathwork are on 31st October from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at The Falstaff Hotel, Ramsgate.
