Who Am I, What Am I? This is my first Toastmaster speech – Project #1- The Icebreaker. I also used this speech as Project # 3 at another Toastmasters Club. Therefore completing two projects with just one speech, from the Competent Communicator Manual.
Who am I? What am I?
My parents nicknamed me Pinky because I was pink when I was born. My real name is Cyd which was my Grandmas initial. It stands for C as in Consuelo, y as in Yangco and D as in Doctolero. Cyd for short but it’s too short for some of my co-workers that they actually call me C-Y-D!
I was born and raised in the Philippines. When I was growing up I drew lots of pictures. I drew pictures of people, flowers, houses, I made comic books and I even designed my clothes which the dressmakers made for me.
I thought for sure I was going to college for fine arts but after graduating from Hi school I had to make a decision. Should I go to nursing school or art school? Nursing meant a secured future. I would have a big chance of going to that far away land where money grows on trees and ice cream falls from the sky. I could meet lots of handsome American boys and I could drive my own car! And did you know what happened?
I went to nursing school!
My parents sacrificed everything so I could become a nurse. There were times they had to choose between paying my tuition or buying our food. As a result, They put the food on credit and paid my tuition! That was forty years ago!
I applied for a job in Texas in 1982. A year later after I processed all my papers, I realized I did not have any money for airfare. How many of you remembered Pan Am World Airways? They had a program called “Fly Now Pay Later.” I went to their office and told them I needed to go the US. They asked, do you have a job waiting for you? I said, “yes” and they issued me a ticket.
Coming to America was the most exciting time of my life! Everything was new! I explored, I learned, I cried I survived! After awhile, I met my handsome all American boy! Guess what? I married him! We started a family, and we have three children.Two boys and a girl. They are 26, 22 &17.
I am now a recovery room nurse. My job is to wake patients up, control their pain, and kick them out.
Nursing is not the only thing about me. I had been a stay-home mom, a homeschool parent, an eBay seller and a travel agent in the past.
Currently, I crochet baby hats from recycled strings. My co-workers and I organize infant hat drive, children’s coat drive, and other community project services. I also do gardening, cooking, shopping, shopping, shopping…but they are not my passion.
The one thing I am passionate about is the pursuit of knowing God and his promises. I am committed to praying the Scriptures over my family and me. I am extremely passionate about it that I turned my prayers into a book and here it is: Your Prayer Coach, a personal prayer guide. It is available on Amazon. If you put your name in the basket, I would like to draw a name and give this book away tonite.
In case you’re wondering, I did not regret becoming a nurse. Art and creativity will always be with me in the way I worship God and in the way I live my life.
Florence Nightingale said, ” nursing is an art. “God+nursing+art= ministry!
That, ladies and gentlemen, is who I am and what I am!
Update: I decided to pursue my art. On Jan. 1, 2017, I watched a youtube video and followed the lesson on how to paint. Then I enrolled at Sofia Art Academy for a 10-hour course. The rest is history, I found my song!
Your Prayer Coach 
