Toastmasters is not a solo sprint to fix your nervousness; it is a shared journey of mutual elevation. Taking the road less traveled has made all the difference, but the road is only worth traveling when we walk it in the company of others.
Standing at the Crossroads
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood," wrote Robert Frost, and like many others,
This was the part where I stood at a crossroads when I first considered joining Blue Nile Toastmasters. I was recommended by DTM Aida as she wanted me to start the journey of being one. One path was comfortable- a life where I avoided the spotlight and stayed in my lane. The other was the road less traveled: the path of public speaking, vulnerability and intentional growth as TM Tiruneh mentioned at the Competition where he was selected to represent Ethiopia in the TEACON May 2026 and that made all the difference; he said : “Be intentional.” A very important message that changed the way I viewed Toastmasters.
When I first walked through the doors of Blue Nile, I viewed the journey as a solitary endeavor. I thought I was simply here to fix my nervousness and refine my own voice. But as I settled into the rhythm of our meetings, I began to hear a different truth, where one echoed in the words of Maya Angelou: “Nobody, but nobody/ Can make it out here alone.”
Mapping the Road
The shift in perspective happened when I stepped into the role of Club Secretary. If Frost’s road is the path we take to find our own voice, then the Secretary’s role is the act of mapping that road for everyone else.
In this position, I serve not just as an administrator; I am the custodian of our shared history. I witness the "Ice Breaker" speeches delivered by those who come in uncertain and observe how they develop into self-assured leaders. I notice the unseen efforts—the organization, the careful monitoring of objectives, and the consistent flow of our processes—that guarantees every member's achievement is recognized.
To sharpen my own leadership capabilities during this time, I began the Dynamic Leadership and Visionary Communication path within Toastmasters and all this to become a Distinguished Toastmasters. And these two path choices was recommended to me by none other amazing mentor in toastmasters and in life DTM Robert as he described it as a good way to move faster along my toastmasters journey. I wanted to mention this This pathway has been the perfect mirror to my secretary duties. While my role as a Secretary teaches me the importance of reliability and service, the Dynamic Leadership path has taught me how to navigate conflict, build team morale, and lead with emotional intelligence. These aren’t just skills for the boardroom; they are tools I use to strengthen our club’s heartbeat.
Intentional Growth and Collaboration
One thing I also want to point out from Maya Angelou’s A Brave and Startling Truth reminds us:
“We are this possible wonder…” showing us a powerful reflection that we all share this fragile, drifting world together. And as Robert Frost writes in the Road Not Taken:
“I took the one less traveled by,
And that made all the difference.”
As a Secretary and student of Dynamic Leadership, I aspire to live these truths every day. I have come to understand the success of the Blue Nile community; a remarkable club filled with vibrant, supportive, and collaborative individuals. I felt that this club welcomed me with open arms, that this club is what I consider my second home which is not something you find as a matter of luck, but the result of intentional effort, thoughtful coordination , and consistent care.
By managing our records and maintaining our structure, I help ensure that when a member chooses to take that “less traveled” road, they don’t find themselves lost in the woods. Instead, they discover a clear path, a supportive community, and a foundation carefully built by those who served before them. In the spirit of Maya Angelou’s words:
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly,
but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
Through dedication, guidance, and the quiet work that allows others to rise with confidence, our community grows in the same way. And as beautifully reminds us:
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, this is exactly the type of spirit I hope to bring to the Blue Nile community every day: creating not just structure, but an environment where every member feels supported enough to thrive.
Looking back at my journey, I realized that Robert Frost was right-taking the road less traveled has made all the difference. But Maya Angelou provided the missing piece of the map: the realization that the road is only worth traveling when we walk it in the company of others.
The Shared Journey
And why are all these important you might say? Because sooner or later, every single one of us will stand at our own crossroads in life. We will face the ultimate choice between the comfort zone or the vulnerability of stepping into the spotlight. My biggest hope is that when you read this, your understanding shifts: Toastmasters is not a solo sprint to fix your nervousness; it is a shared journey of mutual elevation.
Finally, we each make our own individual choices to grow in the paths we want to take, remembering that we don’t walk those roads in isolation. Every speech delivered, roles taken, and every behind-the-scenes effort documented is a shared journey. So I will challenge you not just to walk the path, but to help build it. Be intentional in how you show up for the person next to you. As Robert Frost highlighted the road less traveled by and the difference that one choice can make, my choice to serve Blue Nile has made all the difference in how I view my own leadership, the road I traveled, the people I helped along the way, and how I became a builder of my own path.
