Some years ago, I never imagined I would be where I am today. Back then, I was lost and unsure if I dared to make a change. But looking back now, I realise that taking that leap was the best decision I ever made.

I am excited to be given this opportunity to share my journey of pursuing a dream and building something meaningful. It is a perfect time to share my journey, not because it is extraordinary but because I know so many mothers out there feel the same way I once did. I was stuck, drained, and just plain lost.

For years, I held a reputable job with a comfortable paycheck. Everything looked great on paper, but inside, I was miserable.

I have always been a bubbly person, enjoying meeting and interacting with people. But the longer I stayed in that job, the more lifeless I felt. I was constantly scorned, yelled at, and threatened. I would often come home in tears, drained and defeated. Even holidays, which should have been an escape, were not enjoyable because the thought of going back to work loomed over me.

Lynn Khoo, Founder of Speech Bubble

Every morning, I would arrive early at work, yet stepping out of my car felt hard. I could feel myself sinking deeper into a place I didn’t want to be.

I wanted to leave so many times but fear held me back. I have two young children. How do you just leave a stable job when you have two little ones depending on you? Every time I thought about quitting, the fear of what if held me back. What if I couldn’t earn enough? What if I failed? How do I make ends meet? As mothers, we often tell ourselves that security matters more than happiness and that we can put our dreams on hold a little longer. But what if I told you that choosing your peace is something we should not feel guilty about, but it is also a necessity?

What if, instead of thinking of everything that could go wrong, I thought of everything that could go right? What if I trusted myself the way I always encouraged my children to trust themselves?

So, I took that leap of faith. I quit. I left the toxic place that was breaking me and started something I had always dreamed of. I had always wanted to teach public speaking to children. And just like that, Speech Bubble was born– a centre dedicated to empowering children to find confidence in their own voices. It is where young minds learn to express themselves with clarity and conviction.

Starting was terrifying. I had no fancy setup, no big marketing budget, just a small rented room, and a whole lot of determination. Competing with bigger, well-known businesses was daunting, but passion has a way of shining through. My former colleagues, who had seen me perform and witnessed what I could do, signed their kids up for my classes. Word started spreading, and slowly, Speech Bubble grew.

It wasn’t an overnight success, and there were plenty of moments of doubt, but the satisfaction of doing what I loved was worth every challenge.

There were days when I wondered if I had made a mistake. There were days when I had impostor syndrome. But then I’d get messages from parents telling me how much their children enjoyed my classes, how much confidence they had gained, and how excited they were for each session. And that reminded me exactly why I started.

Lynn and her family

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this journey, that we as mothers, never give ourselves enough credit. We juggle schedules, emotions, and expectations, holding everything together like glue. But in the middle of it all, we forget that we have talents too. We have passions. We have dreams. And those dreams are still worth chasing.

All mothers have talents that can be turned into something meaningful. Passion comes from the heart, and when we take a leap and start something of our own, we build a life that gives us fulfilment, happiness, and purpose.

So if you have a dream, whether it’s starting a business, pursuing a passion, or making a big change, just go for it. The timing will never feel perfect. The doubts will always be there. But you owe it to yourself to try.

Lynn and her current students

Yes, it’s scary. Yes, it’s hard. But what’s harder is living with the regret of never trying.

This journey has taught me that when we, as mothers, chase our dreams, we show our children what courage looks like. We show them that taking risks is okay, that believing in yourself matters, and that our happiness is worth fighting for.

And sometimes, the best thing you can do for your family is to show them what it looks like to chase a dream and make it happen.