I was never good at talking. I was quiet, shy, and often invisible to other people during my childhood and youth. My voice was often lost among my noisy siblings and chatty classmates, and I often felt alone even among a roomful of people. Fortunately as I was growing up, I found my voice in writing. I had kept a journal for many years, through which I talked to myself, to my imaginary friends, even to the strangers of a faraway time and place. I found comfort in solitude and serenity in the noisy world.
However, I had to find my new voice in English after I came to the United States. During the early years, English failed me miserably, and there were way too many misunderstanding and missed opportunities as a result of my language deficiency. While
I like writing, in which I am in total control. Writing forces me to organize my thoughts and choose the words carefully; It allows me to pause, rethink, and clear up confusion. Writing is important not just to writers and journalists, but also to everyday people who write letters, emails, and posts on daily basis, and it has a hidden power that can make a message more memorable, and an impact long-lasting.
I hope that my voice, which was once lost and now found, will grow much louder, clearer, and richer.