It was the day before the 2025 Lunar New Year, and two days before the 2025 Annual Meeting of Pride Toronto. I sat in a cozy local restaurant along Spadina Avenue in Toronto, enjoying a plate of dumplings. As I finished my meal, the waiter brought me the familiar, slightly crispy fortune cookie—one of those items you can find in nearly every Chinese restaurant, an afterthought to the main dish but always somehow meaningful.

I cracked open the cookie, not expecting much more than a few seconds of amusement. But as I read the slip of paper inside, the message was anything but trivial. “Make your idealism more practical,” it said.

At first, I felt a mixture of surprise and reflection. This wasn’t just some generic fortune; this was personal.

You see, I’ve always been an idealist. I’m driven by a deep sense of purpose and a strong desire to make the world a better place—especially for the marginalized communities that so often go unheard. It’s why I decided to run for a position on the Board of Directors for Pride Toronto. I wanted to create a welcoming, safe space for the 2SLGBTQI+ community, particularly for those who face multiple layers of discrimination.

But the fortune cookie’s advice resonated deeper than just my personal dreams. It felt like a reminder—almost a nudge from the universe—that idealism, while powerful, must be balanced with practicality. To truly make a difference, I need to take those lofty goals and break them down into actionable steps. It’s not enough to dream; one must build a path to make those dreams a reality, step by step, with collaboration, empathy, and strategy.

I tucked the fortune away in my pocket, the words staying with me as I prepared for the upcoming Pride Toronto annual meeting. Two days later, on January 30, 2025, during that meeting, I was honored and humbled to be elected as a Board Director, tasked with serving our community for a three-year term.

To be selected in this way by my peers in the community is a responsibility I don’t take lightly. The journey from an idealistic dreamer to someone with real responsibilities is both thrilling and daunting. But now more than ever, I feel the weight of that fortune’s message: “Make your idealism more practical.” It’s not just about having a vision for a better future, it’s about taking that vision and transforming it into concrete action, day by day.

So, as I embark on this new chapter with Pride Toronto, I carry that fortune’s wisdom with me. I am here to listen, to learn, and to work with my fellow community members to create tangible change. Together, we will move beyond ideas and toward impact. Let’s make things happen!