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PLUGGED IN
Fate Made Me Do It!
Jennifer Schmidt, EH2
Last February, I was thrust into learning Canva® own mini-advertising agency and discovering
in order to post my first Facebook promotion new skills. I was hooked!
to celebrate the upcoming meeting, Cherished But isn’t that the point of Toastmasters?
Toys of Childhood. Until then, I had avoided Speaking publicly in front of a group of people
designing Facebook promotions because they is often cited as the number one fear (even
seemed daunting. New Horizons Toastmasters higher than death). Toastmasters gives us the
was fortunate to have talented Club President opportunity to face that fear in a supportive
Maren Zieba creating them, as I got my VPPR environment. We are encouraged to reach
wings under me and developed my Voices! skills. beyond our comfort zone, overcome our
All her ads looked fantastic. I couldn’t wait to see insecurities, and thrive.
what she would do for my meeting. When guests are asked, “Why have you joined
Then disappointment struck! Maren told me our Toastmasters meeting today?” The responses
she wouldn’t be able to create the promotion vary. Some say they don’t want to be nervous
because of other projects she had due that week. during a job interview, others want to be more
My heart sank. Promos are a treat that we can confident presenting at work, or be able to give
offer our members, and I was looking forward to a wedding toast without fainting. It’s all about
mine. Though it was not the end of the world, I facing these fears, pushing ourselves to do the
was sad. Maren did have a lot on her plate, and her work to reach our goals, and then seeking the
saying she couldn’t do something was destiny’s next challenge.
way of daring me to do it myself. I have used Canva for making posts, work
That meant I had a choice to make: Do samples, and presentations. Something I feared
nothing and let fear win or do it scared! and wouldn’t have tried at the beginning of this
Fear did not win, and while still apprehensive, year. The cherry on top was sharing my new
I became a doer. I figured something was skills as a co-presenter for a Canva seminar last
better than nothing. Promotions serve to build month with Maren and Andrea Matthews. What
excitement for our meetings not just for guests a change in six months! I went from not touching
but members too. My first promo was far from Facebook promotions to praising my journey
perfect, nothing close to Maren’s quality but I and newfound skills.
didn’t give up. I made myself do it! In retrospect, the steps I took were easy, but
Surprise! I actually enjoyed the process. I even like walking or Zooming into a Toastmasters
wanted to learn more about messaging, images, meeting for the first time, just starting was a
and branding. It was fun having access to my huge challenge.
36 ONE COMMUNITY
