My name is Angela Wu, Marketing Coordinator in Taipei.
For most of my life, I thought being “strong” meant staying quiet.
At work in Taipei’s fast-paced tech industry, I endured unfair criticism without a word. In my family, I avoided conflict by always agreeing with everyone’s opinions. My colleagues called me “the listener,” but deep down, I knew it wasn’t respect—it was fear.
I convinced myself that this silence was a sign of maturity. But when I was alone, the truth felt heavy. I was angry at myself for always swallowing my words, angry that nobody really knew who I was.
Why I Said Yes to a Pop Workshop
When my teammate Jason Lin, a project manager, invited me to a pop workshop, I almost laughed. “A self-growth group? That sounds like motivational fluff,” I told him.
But he didn’t try to persuade me. He just said, “Then come once and decide for yourself.”
Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe it was exhaustion. But I walked into the room one Saturday morning, certain I would prove it was nonsense.
The Breaking Point
During one exercise, the mentor simply asked us, When was the last time you said what you truly felt—in the exact moment you felt it?
Nobody looked at each other. I didn’t either. My chest tightened. My mouth was dry. And for the first time, I realized: I couldn’t remember.
Something cracked open. Tears came without permission. I wasn’t the only one—my best friend, a high school teacher beside me, was crying too. And in that moment, I understood why people called the pop workshop intense. It wasn’t because of brainwashing. It was because we finally stopped pretending.
What I Found Instead of Fear
I didn’t suddenly transform into a fearless speaker that day. But I did speak—out loud—about how invisible I felt. And instead of judgment, I received something I had been missing for years: real listening.
The strangest part was how light it felt afterward. I realized silence wasn’t strength. Honesty was.
Now, weeks later, I still stumble. I still hesitate. But I also say what I feel—in meetings, at dinner, with friends. And every time, the world doesn’t collapse. In fact, it opens.
My Truth Today
I once thought the pop workshop was just another self-help trend. What I discovered was something far simpler: a space to be human.
If you’ve ever found yourself hiding behind politeness, drowning in unspoken words, or afraid that your truth is “too much,” maybe it’s not strength you need. Maybe it’s permission.
And sometimes, that permission begins the moment you walk into a workshop you swore you didn’t need.
