I had the honor of leading a diversity and cultural competency workshop for about 100 senior managers at one of the largest Maryland state agencies a couple of days ago. A workshop for 100 sounds crazy, but the managers’ level of interest and attention was encouraging. It was tremendous amount of work leading to it, and mentally and physically exhausting. But moments like these also energize me, reminding me of my two decades’ journey of finding my passion and voice in America.

When I started my graduate school about 20 years ago, I received a full scholarship including a teaching assistant (TA) job. When I realized I would independently teach a course called “Public Speaking” as my TA job assignment, I was very nervous. Me?! A student from China would teach Americans how to speak their native tongue in the public? I asked the dean of the school what I should do if my students walked out on me. She assured me that it would never happen and she was right. I thoroughly enjoyed the one-year teaching experience, which gave me so much confidence and laid the foundation for my growing portfolio of public speaking engagements and future careers.

As Montgomery County Executive’s liaison for Asian and Middle Eastern communities, I frequently speak to business and professional groups, policymakers, funders, government agencies and other service providers about the dynamics and characteristics of our new communities and opportunities for the capital region at local and global levels. On weekends and evenings, I often have to “say a few words” or “make brief remarks” on behalf of the County government at numerous community gatherings representing a diverse array of cultures and faiths. In addition, I teach a half-day class on language access and cultural competency to Montgomery County government employees, as part of the County’s mandatory staff training.

Needless to say, much of my job is verbal communication, which includes conducting meetings with community leaders. Public speaking is not easy, whether in a small group or in front of a large crowd. In fact, it is demanding every time to convey the right substance and style, yet also enormously gratifying because it brings out the best in me and the teacher in me.

When I was in elementary school, I had a dream of becoming a teacher, just like my mom who was an elementary school music teacher. Though I never got into that profession as a career, the teacher in me continues to influence the way I look at things, the way I communicate and the professions I am gravitated to. From Vice President of Business Development for Washington, DC Economic Partnership, to Public Information Officer for the DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking; from Assistant Director of Multicultural Affairs at American University, to Montgomery County Executive’s community liaison, every job required verbal competency. It was through such career choices that I have found my voice without caving in to the pressure of sacrificing who I am as a person to simply make a living as an immigrant.

These days, I am often mistaken as American-born or grown, or what some people call “ABC” (American-born Chinese). I grew up in China when English learning was not popular. As adult language learners, most of us are far more competent in reading and writing than in listening and speaking. People often ask me how I have mastered the speaking language. Here are a few tips that have worked for me.

• Choose professions and responsibilities that demand linguistic and cultural competency. But regardless of your profession, the higher up you go, the more verbal communication you have to do. Volunteer work such as serving on boards, committees and commissions can also be an excellent way to develop verbal competency.

• Speaking up and learning to express myself as a professional and reasonable voice. Native-born Americans value linear-progressive thinking, which allows them to follow your thoughts. Avoid talking around the circles without getting to the points quickly, or ever.

• Always be prepared, from content to delivery. With or without notes or visuals, you need to know where you are going with your remarks and don’t let powerpoint do the talk for you. You, not your powerpoint, is the key to a successful presentation.

Public speaking is difficult even for native speakers of any languages. But with practice and courage, it can be a highly rewarding and enriching skill and experience.

Lily Qi is Vice Chair of Maryland Governor’s Commission on Asian American Affairs. She can be reached at qulturematters@gmail.com.