My story begins before I even entered this world. I entered just like every other person……by winning
a race. My prize for winning this race was 9 months in a dark and enclosed space. I know, seems
harsh…very harsh. But on the bright side, the time flew by, I didn't even realize when I was due to be
released.
Good evening TMOD, my fellow Toastmasters and dear guests.
My name is Mohammed Basit Kadri. My release date was the 23rd of April 2001. A fun fact about me,
my name means happiness. Quite ironic if you know any details about my life. I come from a family
of 4 people, my loving mom, my supportive dad, my tolerating little brother, and yours truly.
My mom is a homemaker, my dad is a Certified Financial Planner and a Toastmaster, and my younger
brother is in Grade 11. I spent the first 8 years of my life in India, and then my dad called our entire
family to Dubai. In other words, our standard of living shot up 8 years after I was born. Now I'm not
one for sports, but if there is one sport that I dislike more strongly than others, it's football. And I
have quite strong reasons for that. In 6th grade, we were to have an overnight camp on the school
grounds, now the camp was great, come morning time, while we were waiting for our parents,
everyone decided to play soccer, so I joined in. While defending, I went to tackle one of the attackers
from the opposite team, unfortunately, when I reached him, he decided it would be a good idea to
chip the ball, while I was looking down at it. Another fact about me, I have the reaction speed of a
hippo, and so I could not move away in time………… I had to spend the rest of the game lying on the
sidelines drinking chocolate milk and hoping that the pain would go away quickly.
Another reason is that one time, I made a horrible decision to join a soccer club. I was the
goalkeeper for my team, and when someone from the opposing team shot the ball towards the goal,
I dove……… unfortunately, I dove prematurely and my hands crossed the ball, which ended up hitting
the next closest target (points at face). That was much worse though, that injury knocked me out
cold for a few minutes and gave me headaches for days, and I had to visit the school clinic multiple
times.
Nevertheless, my life wasn't all doom and gloom, mostly sure…… but not always. I had a few fun
times too. But I won't bore you with those. Academically, from 3rd grade, which is when I joined the
school in Dubai to 11th I was good, but socially, right at the bottom of the barrel. In 12th and 13th, my
social life decided to take a hike, while my grades, like the temperature up here, dipped. Fortunately,
before we could have our final exams in 13th grade, Covid hit, so they were canceled. The only reason
I am here in Canada is because I didn't sit for my finals in 13th, so while covid was wreaking havoc
across the world, it was for me, like my billionaire friends, a blessing in disguise.
I spent the first year and a half at TMU in Dubai, it was awesome because I had no costs apart from
tuition, but also tough because I had to stay up till 3 AM for my classes. Then during the winter of
2022, I travelled to Canada. I was faced with a big problem during my first few weeks here. I was left
alone to rent the apartment that I had rented with a friend. So, I, like any 21-year-old man soldiered
through and worked tirelessly to solve the problem…….is what I’d like to say, but no, I cried like a
little baby. Anyway, I was able to find an apartment that is quite close to TMU within a month and
that is where I am still residing.
During one of the events hosted by the TMU Entrepreneurship Association, the LEAD Conference, I
met Brandon, we got to talking and he told me that he was working to restart the TMU Toastmasters
club. Rather excitedly, I expressed my interest in joining the club. A few months later, and here we
are. Over to the TMOD