A Shortcut, That Shaped Me

A Shortcut, That Shaped Me

Public speaking has always felt intimidating to me, but recently I took my first big step by delivering my icebreaker speech at Toastmasters.

At Toastmasters, the icebreaker is a tradition where you introduce yourself to the club.

I chose to share the story of how something as simple as creating a desktop shortcut as a teenager sparked a passion that shaped my entire career. That tiny action led me to study software engineering, overcome setbacks, build things quietly, and eventually learn that technical skills alone aren’t enough, you also have to find your voice.

Moving to Denmark brought new challenges: a different culture, a new language, and the need to communicate effectively in unfamiliar settings. Joining Toastmasters is my way of continuing that journey of growth.

I’m grateful for the warm welcome, the standing ovation, and the encouragement from all the amazing members who made this milestone so memorable.

Here is my icebreaker speech -

Hello Toastmasters and Guests,

Can you remember a small moment that quietly changed your life? For me, it was something as simple as a desktop shortcut on a computer. Growing up, I wasn’t drawn to video games or chatting online like most kids. In fact, I didn’t even have a computer until I was 16. But my cousin did. One day, while visiting him, I created a tiny shortcut on his desktop — nothing fancy, just a simple icon that opened a folder. But in that moment, something clicked. I had created something. With just a few clicks, I made something new appear on that screen. And to me, it felt like magic. That evening, I went home and cried — not because I was sad, but because I wanted that magic for myself. I begged my parents for a computer — not for fun, not for school — but because I had found a spark. They told me, “If you study hard, we’ll get you one.” So I did. Eventually, I got my first computer. From that point on, I started exploring — media players, websites, simple lines of code. No one was watching, and I didn’t need them to. I didn’t want praise. I just wanted to build. I didn’t study for education. I studied for the computer.

When I entered university to study software engineering, I thought: finally — I belong here. But instead of building, we were asked to write code on paper and memorize theory. I couldn’t connect. I stopped going to class. I failed several subjects. But the lab was different. No theory — just me, a keyboard, and a problem to solve. And I thrived. Then came a national hackathon. No one cared about attendance or grades — only what you could create. And my team? We won. That day, I realized something powerful: I am not a failure. The system may fail you — but your passion can save you.

I kept building — quietly. But I never shared the stories behind what I made. Until I joined the tech industry. There, people noticed my energy. Then my teamwork. Finally — my work. But something was missing. Good work wasn’t enough. To grow, I had to speak up. I had to explain my ideas, connect with clients, defend decisions, and lead conversations. And when I did — everything changed. I began to earn recognition not just for my code, but for my communication.

Then I made the biggest shift yet: I moved to Denmark. New country. New language. New culture. And a new challenge — finding my voice in unfamiliar surroundings. That brings me here — to Toastmasters. Not just to improve my public speaking, but to continue a journey that started long ago with a simple shortcut. That shortcut didn’t just open a folder. It opened a pathway.

Thank you for reading. Feedback is always welcome!