Last Friday, I attended my first Toastmasters Youth Training. Currently, my public speaking skills need some improvement. The first speech was an introduction about ourselves so we can know each other better. I hope you enjoy my icebreaker speech. It isn't really chronological because I focus on a theme that is found throughout my entire life.
For those that would ask me, "Where are you from?" I struggle to think of an answer. Based on the longest place I lived in, it would be Colorado. For me, I never had an actual place to call "home sweet home." After moving 5 times over the course of my life (and I mean moving to completely different places), I have a hard time deciding where I exactly belong. Here is my journey: New Jersey, Indiana, Colorado, Taiwan, and California. Although moving a lot has made it hard for me to feel a sense of belonging, there are some positive changes that happened after moving to a new place, especially Taiwan. When I heard that we were moving to Taiwan, my heart froze. Images of a mysterious, isolated place came to my mind. Sure, I was Chinese, but I grew accustomed to life in the U.S. and barely knew much about my cultural heritage. After moving to Taiwan, I started to become more open to new ideas. Instead of dreading Chinese class, I wanted to become more fluent. Instead of only hanging out with Americans, I became friends with local students. Like a camera, the aperture lenses widened, allowing me to see the world in a bigger picture instead of concentrating on a small detail. The groups I interact with have widened, allowing me to look at different perspectives. I am now able to leave my former comfort zone by being exposed to new people, cultures, and traditions. After living in Taiwan, my cultural identity is no longer muddy but clear. Although I have returned to the U.S., the experiences I had in Taiwan still resonate with me to this day. In short, moving to different places has made me become more open minded and exposed to new ideas.
For those that would ask me, "Where are you from?" I struggle to think of an answer. Based on the longest place I lived in, it would be Colorado. For me, I never had an actual place to call "home sweet home." After moving 5 times over the course of my life (and I mean moving to completely different places), I have a hard time deciding where I exactly belong. Here is my journey: New Jersey, Indiana, Colorado, Taiwan, and California. Although moving a lot has made it hard for me to feel a sense of belonging, there are some positive changes that happened after moving to a new place, especially Taiwan. When I heard that we were moving to Taiwan, my heart froze. Images of a mysterious, isolated place came to my mind. Sure, I was Chinese, but I grew accustomed to life in the U.S. and barely knew much about my cultural heritage. After moving to Taiwan, I started to become more open to new ideas. Instead of dreading Chinese class, I wanted to become more fluent. Instead of only hanging out with Americans, I became friends with local students. Like a camera, the aperture lenses widened, allowing me to see the world in a bigger picture instead of concentrating on a small detail. The groups I interact with have widened, allowing me to look at different perspectives. I am now able to leave my former comfort zone by being exposed to new people, cultures, and traditions. After living in Taiwan, my cultural identity is no longer muddy but clear. Although I have returned to the U.S., the experiences I had in Taiwan still resonate with me to this day. In short, moving to different places has made me become more open minded and exposed to new ideas.
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