My Background Before I begin talking about Toastmasters, I should give you some context. During the extensive series of COVID-19 lockdowns I was taken to a dark place, mentally, as I battled with many thoughts about the direction I should take my life. I assume this isn’t an uncommon thing for a 17-year-old to experience, but stupidly I took no constructive action at the time and continued with my life of nothingness. Coming out of lockdown, I realised something had to change if I wanted to get anywhere, and so I cultivated an indelible passion for personal development, which put non-fiction books and educational podcasts, rather than video games, at the top of…