By TM Juhi Jajodia Agarwal
The first time I spoke at Toastmasters, it lasted only 21 seconds. Just 21 seconds, yet those seconds changed the trajectory of my voice, my confidence, and my life. When I was called for Table Topics during my first meeting as a guest, my heart raced. My palms were cold. My mind was louder than my voice. I spoke, but barely. As I walked back to my seat, I prepared myself for what I had feared since childhood: judgment, laughter, or silent mockery. That fear had followed me for years. A fear of being seen. A fear of being heard. A fear of not being enough. But instead of silence, something unexpected happened. I received applause. A warm and genuine round of applause. And the person who had invited me leaned over and said, “You were amazing. You spoke so well. If you keep speaking, you will do great in life.” That moment changed something inside me. It did not erase my fear instantly, but it softened it. It opened a door I never knew I had the courage to walk through. That was the beginning of my Toastmasters journey.
Like many people, I carried a deep fear of public speaking. It was not just nervousness; it was years of self doubt wrapped in silence. I had thoughts, opinions, and stories, but my voice often hesitated. Writing felt safer. Writing did not tremble. Toastmasters gently challenged that comfort. With every meeting, every Table Topics session, and every role I accepted, I learned something new. I learned that confidence is not something you wait for. It is something you build, moment by moment. I learned that a voice does not need to be perfect to be powerful. It only needs to be honest. Each speech gave me structure. Each evaluation gave me clarity. Each meeting strengthened my presence.
Slowly, fear loosened its grip.
One of the greatest gifts Toastmasters gave me was belonging. A space where growth was encouraged and vulnerability was respected. A space where mistakes were not judged but shaped into learning. Feedback became a mirror. Not to show flaws, but to reflect potential. I learned to listen with intention and to speak with awareness. Communication, I realized, is not about impressing others. It is about connecting with them. In that environment, I did not just find my voice. I trusted it.
Outside Toastmasters, I play many roles. I am a mother, a homemaker, a leader, a writer, and a woman navigating responsibilities and aspirations together. Balancing these roles is not always easy. There are days filled with deadlines, fatigue, and self doubt. Yet Toastmasters gave me more than speaking skills. It gave me confidence to lead my life with clarity and courage. Today, I do not only speak during meetings. I speak up for myself. I express my thoughts with conviction. I lead with empathy. And the most beautiful reflection of this growth is my son. He is just three years old, yet I already see leadership in him. He confidently holds a microphone, speaks without hesitation, and often leads his peers. His teachers tell me he is the first to guide others. I know why. He watches me speak. He watches me lead. He watches me believe in my voice.
As I step into the New Year, I carry a deeper purpose.
I no longer want my voice to remain limited to meeting rooms or written pages. I want it to reach conversations, communities, and causes. I want to empower other women to believe that their voice matters, that confidence can be built, and that courage grows with use. I am a writer, and words are my strength. But I have learned that in today’s world, writing alone is not enough. Voices must be heard. Stories must be spoken. Impact is created when expression meets courage. I want to speak for those who hesitate. I want to encourage those who doubt. I want to lead with authenticity, not authority. Toastmasters taught me that leadership is not about volume. It is about value.
The journey has not been easy. Balancing responsibilities, meeting expectations, and staying consistent required resilience. Yet every challenge shaped me. Toastmasters taught me discipline, accountability, and confidence. Every meeting attended, every role accepted, and every fear faced added a layer of strength I did not know I had.