SMF Conference
A small step for mankind, but a giant leap for someone diagnosed with Selective Mutism at 14— someone who used to fall silent when she was expected to speak. Not anymore.
Recently, I had the honor of being a panelist at the Annual Conference of the Selective Mutism Foundation at Brock University in Canada.
This time, I traveled for the first time on my own, answered all the questions at border control, networked with strangers at the conference, and enjoyed every conversation.
Just before the event began, Dr. Poling Bork unexpectedly invited me to join her panel to share my story.
I said yes — without hesitation.
That moment symbolized how far I’ve come.
The biggest difference from my “Little Me”?
👉 Focusing on what I wanted to say instead of what could go wrong.
The audience’s warm reactions lifted my confidence even higher.
Every individual journey is unique but they all have something in common: faith, effort, small steps, tenacity and support. Overthinking my path to overcoming selective mutism, I identified some ingredients of my ‘secret sauce’ that really helped me a lot. And you need a lot of it, for a long time, in different doses and it may take a while before you notice improvement.
💚 Grateful for Meer dan stil vzw
Through Meer dan stil vzw (the Flemish Association for Selective Mutism), I found friendship, a sense of belonging, and courage.
They created countless opportunities that once felt impossible:
◆ Featured in a TV documentary and radio interviews
◆ Appeared in national newspapers and podcasts
◆ Spoke at seminars and summer camps
◆ Joined the Board and started public speaking
Their trust and encouragement made all the difference.
💫 My “Secret Sauce” for Progress
Mindset– Motivational songs helped me imagine the “older me” who made it through.
Owning my story– I turned vulnerability into authenticity, shaping my work as a content creator and designer.
Preparation – Careful planning replaced fear with focus.
Support – My family’s patience allowed me to grow, one small step at a time.
Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.
Sometimes, you just need to pause, look back, and realize how far you’ve come.
And to those walking the same path with Selective Mutism:
◆ Find your ingredients.
◆ Mix your own secret sauce.
◆ Keep going — your voice matters.
Grateful to Dr. Poling Bork , Mona Taremi , Ina Helgesen , Leyna Zhao, Fabiana Baracchini, Ingrid Tiggelovend , Katrien Stinders for supporting me on this journey!