If you allow me to define my annual word of last year, I would say 2017 is a year of CHANGE. At the very beginning of 2017, I was hit by the fear of public speaking. How hard it is. Let me tell you. It was on an annual planning meeting. The whole department gathered together in the training center. I was asked to            present the business plan of our department. Although I've been prepared it for weeks, I still cannot help feeling nervous. When I went on the stage my hand got sweat , my heart almost beat out of my chest, and my throat became so tight that I cannot say a word in the first 3 minutes. You can imagine what an awkward situation it is. When the meeting finished, I told myself, you must change. After that I investigated all kinds of the training classes, look though the online courses in WeChat and other platform, until one day I heard the Toastmaster. Finally I found CARE.

I clearly remembered  my first cc speech about self-introduction. When I just start my speech, I can feel all the blood is up to my head, I twisted my hand and my body shake unawarely. I feel terrible.  However the members and guests are so kind, especially  my mentor kathleen always had a big smile hang on her face and her supportive eye chasing after me, and Simon always smiled and nod when saw him. Then I feel a little bit relax, although sometime my brain went blank, sometimes I really don't know what I'm talking about. Cherry give me a fascinating evaluation and Patrick extend my idea of regional identification in later Patrick's  thought of the day. All this provide me great courage to go further. Last Nov. I went to Barcelona. For the first time when I talk to others, I didnt feel nervous any more , no matter they speak English or Spanish. I know something here has changed. 

Later on we invited our former president Zoe to do the workshop "Gift". I really like this topic cause I'm quit agree with the idea "Everyone is gifted". More over Zoe brought her idea beyond our expectation. For me the most impressive part of her workshop is the "Fruit". She said everyone is like an apple tree, when it grows up it will grow apples. Apples are the "Fruits". "Fruits" can help others' growing. This idea brought me to think about others. When I found Care, my purpose here is improve myself. And I did when I do my CC speech regularly. I concern about my progress mostly. But the "Fruits" remind me there is another way of improvement. Not just getting, think about what you can give. Now I'm helping with the club's publicity relation. I just figured out my duty yesterday, I'll learn more to support our club to serve more members and guests. The change from getting to giving means a lot to me.

We all came to Toastmaster with  purpose. Some for public speaking, some for social connecting, some for leadership, some for finding the one. In other word, We all here to change. So the first step to change is to join us. You can become member you will get exact what you want ,reach your goal. You also can be a contributor, one of our officer team, you will learn from giving, you will get more. Hope we all get what we want in 2018.