From Shadows to Spotlight

As a child, I absolutely loved public speaking.

I’d volunteer for every poem recitation, every assembly announcement, every elocution competition. The stage felt like home. I enjoyed the attention, the applause, the feeling of saying something that others listened to.

But one school competition changed everything.

I had memorized my speech word for word. Walked up on stage, looked at the audience, and then… nothing. My mind went blank. Not one sentence came out. I stood there frozen, heart pounding, throat dry, eyes beginning to tear up. I eventually stepped down without finishing, and all I remember is the weight of silence and disappointment.

After that day, I stopped raising my hand. The thought of speaking in front of people made my stomach twist. I told myself I wasn’t a “natural” anymore.

But deep inside, that love for speaking hadn’t really gone. It just got buried under fear.

What helped me come back? Not a single magical moment, but many small ones.

Watching that teacher who spoke with such ease and clarity. Noticing how my friend told stories in class that had everyone listening. Attending a college lecture where the speaker had the whole room hooked, not with fancy words, but with genuine passion.

At first, I thought they were just born that way. But over time, I realized something powerful. Being effortless takes effort. They practiced. They prepared. They learned what worked. And so could I.

So I began again, with shaky hands but a determined heart. I recorded myself. I spoke to mirrors. I read aloud, joined speaking clubs, and slowly started finding my rhythm. It wasn’t instant. But with practice, I grew more confident. And most importantly, I found joy in speaking again.

That’s why I help.

Because I know how it feels to go from loving the stage to dreading it. From feeling seen to feeling invisible. And I know what it takes to reclaim that voice, to rise again, to speak not just to be heard, but to truly connect.

Be a voice, not an echo.
Let your words reflect who you are. Let your story lead the way. And know that it is possible to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight — because I’ve walked that path myself.