I joined Toastmasters in 2021 shortly after starting my career with the Government of New Brunswick, Canada (GNB). Before working at GNB I was a clinician working in homes & childcare facilities creating lesson and behaviour plans for preschoolers on the autism spectrum.

When I came to GNB I was no longer working with preschoolers but now working with adults exclusively. The job requirements changed and suddenly I found myself presenting on various topics to adults who were learning. I also found myself working on a team where we collaborated on projects.

I sought out Toastmasters to help me in two ways, improve my public speaking and build my skills as a collaborative leader. It has been over one year of being a member of Civil Speakers. I have reflected a lot on what I have learned over the course of this year. Through observation of others, attending meetings, taking on meeting roles, and delivering speeches I am now a more confident speaker. I have learned to speak slowly and calmly, something I struggled with before. I no longer turn shades of red from having others look at me. I rarely mix up my words or forget what I was speaking about mid sentence when in front of a group. I willingly speak up in front of people I do not know and feel more at ease while speaking. The pathways have taught me how to engage in active listening and my interpersonal skills on a team have improved.

I have always been someone who admired those who are confident speakers and wanted to be just like them. With the help of Toastmasters, I am closer to being that person myself, something I never thought I could achieve.

Now, what do I expect to get out of being a Toastmaster? Much of it I have already found; great friends, great community, networking experience that reaches far and wide, and the opportunity to share stories, lessons, and laughs with one another.