From Helpless to Empowered: How Canva Gave Me a Voice

There are moments in life when you feel powerless, when circumstances place you in a position where you can only watch from a distance, unable to help the people who need you most.

For me, that moment came during the COVID-19 Movement Control Order (MCO). I was stuck in my hometown, nearly eight hours away from the private university in Kuantan where I worked as a counsellor.

My team was on the ground, working tirelessly to support students, while I could do nothing but wait.

Or so I thought.

I desperately wanted to contribute, to be useful, to help in some way. But what could I do from so far away?

My work had always been about guiding students, listening to them, supporting them. It was never about creating designs, making posters, or working with visuals.

But during those long, uncertain days, I stumbled upon something that would change the way I approached my work forever—Canva.

I had never studied design, never thought of myself as a creative person.

But when I opened Canva for the first time, something clicked. It wasn’t intimidating like other design software.

There were no complex tools, no confusing buttons. Just simple, intuitive features that made creating something beautiful feel effortless.

And in that moment, I realised—I could still help, just in a different way.

I started small, designing a poster on COVID-19 prevention. Then another. Soon, I was creating digital resources for students—guides on mental health, infographics about staying safe, a personal wellness e-kit to help them cope with the emotional toll of isolation.

Every poster, every booklet, every piece of digital content was a way for me to reach out, to let students know they weren’t alone, even when they were physically apart.

Canva became my lifeline, my bridge to those I couldn’t meet in person. It allowed me to transform words into visuals, emotions into designs.

What started as a tool of necessity quickly became something more—a passion. Even after MCO ended and life returned to normal, Canva remained an essential part of my work.

In fact, I became so good at it that my boss started asking me to design posters for department events and programmes. Me—a counsellor, not a designer—now the go-to person for visuals.

Looking back, I smile at how far I’ve come. Canva wasn’t just an app; it was a turning point. It taught me that creativity isn’t about having the perfect skills or training—it’s about having the right tools and the willingness to try.

It gave me a way to contribute when I thought I had nothing to offer. It turned a moment of helplessness into a journey of discovery.

And now, I can’t imagine working without it.

As for now, I work at Twenty-Four Consulting, and Canva is still a huge part of my daily routine. I use it extensively for designing slides, especially for the training sessions I conduct on mental well-being and productivity tools.

Canva has not only helped me support students in the past, but it continues to empower me in teaching others how to make life easier, more organised, and visually engaging.

What started as a personal discovery has now grown into something much bigger. Today, I’m proud to be part of Twenty-Four Consulting—officially recognised as the first Canva Agency Partner in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.

We now help others unlock the same potential I once found in Canva, whether it’s through licensing, training, or design support. If you’re curious about how Canva can transform the way you work or want to explore what we offer, check out our Canva services for businesses and teams.