Shadowing Practice: Why I Left - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
C1
When you were a child, who did you want to be?
139 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
When you were a child, who did you want to be?
2
I wanted to be like my mother.
3
She didn't wear a cape, or shoot lasers out of her eyes.
4
She was someone who wore a smile and made people more beautiful.
5
I remember telling her clients how I wanted to be just like her when I grow up.
6
"You'll be poor if you become like me," she'd tell me.
7
"Become successful, like a doctor, then you can make money and be happy." When you're a child you don't really understand the concept of money.
8
You just want to be happy.
9
"But money buys happiness," they say.
10
From an early age my ambitions were driven by the expectations of others.
11
And being the people pleaser that I was, I'd spend the rest of my youth chasing after my mother's dream, becoming successful.
12
When I was old enough to help my mother out at the salon, it was then when I realized how she did more than making people look beautiful.
13
She made them feel beautiful.
14
She was always smiling.
15
But I knew behind that mask she was hurt.
16
Every other night my parents would fight and it was always over money.
17
I wanted my family to be happy, so I grew up determined on one day becoming successful.
18
Senior year of high school, while filling out university applications, an epiphany hit me.
19
If I pursue my studies in medicine, I'd be spending the rest of my life fulfilling someone else's dream instead of my own.
20
My intuition led me to fill out an application for art school instead.
21
I felt so selfish, but I had to confess to my mother.
22
She was heartbroken and scared that as an artist I'd struggle to make ends meet like her.
23
But I promised her that I'd find a way to take care of our family while still pursuing my ambitions.
24
She trusted in me and gave me her blessing.
25
The first day of art school was special because all new students were given laptops.
26
This became my window to the world, a vital tool for all my creative needs.
27
But soon enough, reality would remind me how my dreams came at a cost and I needed to make money.
28
I found a job listing for a beauty advisor position.
29
I completed the interview but got rejected.
30
Yeah, it sucked at first.
31
But then I was reminded how God, the universe, whatever higher power you believe in, has three answers to your prayers: Yes, Not Yet, or I Have Something Better.
32
God was right because that 'Something Better' happened to be the very first beauty video I created.
33
I was sharing my everyday natural beauty routine.
34
Nothing groundbreaking.
35
I didn't expect anyone to watch it.
36
But after checking back, I couldn't believe all the viewers and comments pouring in.
37
That one video changed the course of my journey.
38
The early days of YouTube was magical.
39
No one was really making videos for money.
40
But once it was possible for creators to monetize their videos, I was able to leave my part-time job and turn this little hobby into a thriving career.
41
I did it, Mom!
42
I became successful and I was happy.
43
My channel renewed my sense of purpose.
44
Eventually my hard work paid off.
45
And after saving up enough money, my family was taken care of first.
46
I felt so fulfilled.
47
Creating these videos didn't feel like work.
48
It felt more like a dream and I didn't want to wake up.
49
My growing channel caught the eyes of higher-ups who grew intrigued.
50
It wouldn't be for long until I'd be swept away by opportunities and promises.
51
I said my goodbyes and left my family's nest to pursue the American Dream in the 'Wild West.' It was hard to leave my family because they were all I ever knew, but my intuition told me to go and I had to follow.
52
Moving to a new city by yourself can feel isolating.
53
And in the city of dreams I found myself surrounded by people who heavily influenced my career.
54
They had big plans and kept me busy until that was all I ever knew... busy.
55
The taste of success was like a drug and I couldn't get enough.
56
I figured, the more productive I am, the more successful I'll become because money buys happiness.
57
I grew to understand how happiness came at a cost because I had to honor what I signed on the dotted line.
58
At that time it was worth it.
59
I was able to retire my mother and take care of my family like I promised.
60
But it wasn't enough.
61
I still had more dreams to cross off my list.
62
Once I was a girl with dreams who eventually became a product... smiling, selling, and selling.
63
Who I was on camera and who I was in real life began to feel like strangers.
64
Money can bring out the worst in people and I was no exception.
65
My insecurities got the worst of me.
66
I became imprisoned by my own vanity and was never satisfied with how I looked.
67
The life I led online was picture perfect but in reality I was carefully curating the image of a life I wanted, not had.
68
Money buys happiness, they say.
69
But all dreams come to an end and I'd have to wake up to face the harsh truth.
70
The road to success is not only paved with failures, but you also become a target.
71
I had to battle through several lawsuits from people who wanted a piece of it.
72
This nightmare took a toll on me.
73
It nearly broke me down, but I wasn't ready to give up.
74
So I kept myself busy, taking on more projects and more work.
75
"Become more successful and one day you'll be happy again." Staying busy was my only way I was able to cope with all the stress and anxiety.
76
It helped to numb the pain.
77
Years would go by and I find myself becoming more isolated and disconnected from my family, friends, and you, my viewers.
78
I'm sorry. I didn't know what to do or who to talk to.
79
I felt so alone and I had too much pride to let you see me at my weakest.
80
I felt so depressed and I didn't know why.
81
I wanted to be forgotten so I began posting less online.
82
During one of my sleepless nights I found myself watching one of my earlier videos.
83
I'd forgotten how genuine and full of life I once was.
84
It was such an innocent time.
85
Before the money, before the fame.
86
I felt like somewhere along this journey I lost myself.
87
Was it because of money?
88
I spent my whole life chasing after success only to find myself running away from the very thing that mattered... myself.
89
My true self.
90
In the end, I wasn't fooling her because deep down I wasn't happy.
91
I've grown to learn how money can buy many things, like peace of mind, comfort, status, anything but happiness.
92
At this moment, I was feeling so broken, but my inner child wasn't ready to give up on me.
93
She reminded me how it's never too late to start over.
94
Although money can't buy happiness, if there is one thing people wish they had more of, it's time.
95
So that's what I did.
96
With my money I bought myself more time.
97
Time to find myself before I lost myself.
98
My intuition told me it was time to leave.
99
So I followed.
100
They say, "If you want to fly, you have to give up everything that weighs you down." And I wanted to soar.
101
I packed up what I could fit in a suitcase and left.
102
I left everything - my dreams, success, the life I built and worked so hard for...
103
all behind me and didn't look back.
104
I took refuge in a place where I could find meaningful time to heal, learn, and grow.
105
It was in nature where I found peace again.
106
No Wi-Fi, no distractions.
107
Just me, nature, and my thoughts.
108
This world I was disconnected from embraced me again and nurtured my broken spirit back to health.
109
Echoes of all the noise and anxiety that once polluted my mind began fading.
110
With my mind at rest I was able to reflect and confront my ego.
111
Memories of my blurry past began to take shape.
112
I was reminded of all the trials I went through and how those trials forged me.
113
Every experience, choice, good or bad, molded me to become the person I am today.
114
But they don't control me.
115
Recognizing this gave me the power and freedom to finally decide what I wanted from my own life.
116
And I wanted to be happy.
117
You can't buy happiness, but you can create it.
118
Right then and there I made a conscious choice, an effort, to create happiness around me.
119
I did so by letting go of anything that was holding me back and inviting things that would elevate me in every way.
120
I wanted to learn again so I became a student, and the school was life.
121
Growth isn't for everyone.
122
Some people want to stay the same forever, but not me.
123
I was ready for growth.
124
With all the time I was able to buy, I spent most of it learning, dreaming, creating, and exploring the depths of my curiosity.
125
It wasn't happiness I was looking for.
126
It was the truth.
127
My quest is still not over.
128
There's still so much more for me to discover and learn, and that takes time.
129
So what now?
130
Truth is, I don't know yet.
131
I just want to create and that's what makes me happy.
132
Back then I was just someone who was showing you how to look more beautiful.
133
Now I want to show you how to feel more beautiful.
134
Music by Kristofferson Song titles: Where Do Tears Go & Broken Fairy Lullaby If you'd like to see what I've been working on for the past year, check out my revamped em Cosmetics.
135
emcosmetics.com And I finally fulfilled my childhood dream, creating a comic.
136
You can enjoy it for free at heliosfemina.com.
137
Make sure your volume is on if you'd like to hear the soundtrack with it.
138
Thank you for watching.
139
And of course, good luck.
Download App
AI scoring for every sentence you speak
TRENDING
Popular
Context & Background
The video "Why I Left" conveys an inspiring personal journey about the speaker's transition from chasing expectations to following their true passions. It reflects on the pressures faced in childhood, particularly regarding career choices influenced by family expectations. The speaker's mother represents a common struggle, balancing the pursuit of happiness and financial security. As the narrative unfolds, we see how the speaker courageously chooses a path that aligns with their authentic self, ultimately transforming their love for beauty and creativity into a successful career. This story not only illustrates the importance of following one’s dreams but also encourages viewers to embrace their unique journeys, making it a motivational piece for anyone grappling with similar decisions.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- "You'll be poor if you become like me." - This phrase emphasizes the fear of financial instability when pursuing passion over conventional success.
- "But money buys happiness." - A common belief often debated in the context of personal fulfillment and financial security.
- "I want to be successful." - An aspiration that resonates with many, underpinning the drive to achieve personal goals.
- "I promised her that I'd find a way to take care of our family." - A reminder of the responsibility many feel towards their families while pursuing their own dreams.
- "Creating these videos didn't feel like work." - A sentiment that illustrates the joy found in pursuing one's passions professionally.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively use the shadowing technique from this video for English speaking practice, follow these steps:
- Listen: Play the video several times to familiarize yourself with the speaker's tone and rhythm.
- Read Along: Access the transcript of the video. As you listen, read the text simultaneously to enhance comprehension.
- Pace Yourself: Start with short segments of the video, repeating each line aloud after the speaker. Focus on matching their pronunciation and intonation.
- Record Yourself: Use your phone or recording device to capture your speech. This will help you identify areas for improvement in your pronunciation and fluency.
- Review and Compare: Listen to your recording alongside the original audio. Notice the differences and practice the challenging phrases to improve your English pronunciation.
This method is particularly beneficial for those preparing for the IELTS speaking practice, as it helps with both accent reduction and conversational skills through immersive shadow speech. Engaging with the video content will not only enhance your speaking abilities but also motivate you to express your unique stories and aspirations.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
☕ Buy us a coffee
ShadowingEnglish remains 100% free thanks to your support. Server and AI costs are high — your coffee keeps us going! 🙏