In January, I completed my “Icebreaker” speech at Toastmasters. This is the very first “origin” story we write to introduce ourselves and begin the journey toward becoming confident public speakers.
Here is the full transcript of my speech—a look through the lens of 90s nostalgia in Ireland at what it means to truly upgrade your life’s resolution.
The Play Button
Evolving in life can be equated to seeing things in higher definition. It’s not just that the world changes—it’s that you finally see the details that were there all along.
Good evening fellow Toastmasters, guests, and Madam Toastmaster. My name is Shaleen, and tonight, I would like to hit the “play” button on my story.
Picture a crisp Friday evening in the 90s. I’m making my way to my weekly Xtra-vision treat. With £2 in hand, I’m envisioning which Disney movies I can get my hands on. For those who didn’t grow up in Ireland, Xtra-vision was our “cathedral of cinema.” It was a spiritual experience where we rented movies and watched them until we could recite every line. Combined with a quick pop to the chipper on the way home, life was simply… perfect.
Lost in Translation
But my story actually started with a “lost in translation” moment. One of my first core memories was a discussion I had with my mother when I was just three years old. I had come home from playschool frustrated. I’d been arguing with a girl over a dollhouse.
I remember saying, “Atachi… this is atachi!” She responded, “No it is not, it’s a suitcase!”
I couldn’t understand her. You see, at that point, I spoke fluent Hindi but almost no English. My mother informed me that evening that in Ireland, we speak English, and if I wanted to make friends, I needed to do the same. Like a sponge, I switched. Within months, I was fluent.
The Patch of Static
Fast forward to secondary school, and the picture got fuzzy. This mixed identity haunted me like a good horror movie. At home, I was Indian with strict Indian values. In society, I was Irish, experiencing Xtra-vision evenings and the dreaded rewinding of VHS tapes.
This conflict was why the picture of my life hit a patch of static. The picture got darker; I had very little signal. Eventually, I realized I could no longer wait for the signal to fix itself.
I had to adjust the brightness and contrast settings of my own life.
I started focusing on positive thinking. I even began writing blogs about how I “changed the channel” on myself. I studied Pharmacology, but it wasn’t until my Masters in Business and Biotech that I discovered my love for presentation and business.
Labels vs. Content
I worked my way up to Big Pharma. Through those stages, I realized that job titles or positions are just the ‘labels’ on the tape. What matters is the content of the movie.
In 2023, after my second child, I hit “pause.” I focused on my family and prioritized mindset and physical health over position. I rewired my hardware and embraced my “cultural fusion” identity.
The 4K Resolution
Today, I’m a wife, a mother of two, and married to a Romanian man—adding yet another beautiful layer to my story.
2026 is my year of High Definition. I’m no longer just watching movies; I’m directing my own story. I am currently working on a business idea focused on the very cultural fusion that used to confuse me.
Xtra-vision may be long gone, and we no longer need to “rewind” our Netflix streams, but the lesson remains: Personal growth is the process of upgrading your resolution. I’m finally enjoying the movie in 4K.
Join the Community
I’m building a space for like-minded individuals who want to “change their channel” and live a more positive, energetic life. If this resonated with you, I’d love for you to join my newsletter for weekly mindset reflections
Smile With Shaleen 
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