Picture this: you’re walking down the hallway, and you see a poster for a club called “Speech.” You’ve heard about it before but haven’t given it too much thought. But it’s the beginning of the year, and you’ve been looking for a club to join.
What is Speech? Well, for starters it’s a competitive club. Yes, that’s right. Students actually go to competitions and perform a speech. It could actually be their own if they would like to write one, or, for some of the events, it might be somewhat else’s. Second, they meet quite often. It’s not a once-a-month thing (not that there’s anything wrong with that); in fact, meetings are every Tuesday and Thursday, so it is a commitment. But don’t fret if there is other stuff going on. The meetings last from 3:15 to 5:30, so if you need to leave early or arrive late, there’s absolutely no problem. There are two amazing teachers and coaches there to help you if you need it: Mr. Blakley and Mr. Stevens, as well as a senior student assistant.
Speaking of seniors, I asked a few of them (anonymously) how they feel about Speech, and they all came up with similar responses. One person said, “I love speech. It’s so fun, I don’t know why more people don’t do it.” Another said, “It’s a great place to be. I’m glad I decided to join.” Others had similar responses, saying how it’s “fun” and “welcoming.” But what about the freshmen? Well, I also asked around for some opinions, and here’s what they had to say: “I went into the place not knowing what speech was. After I came to the first meeting, I knew it would be a nice club to join. Here I am a couple months later, and I don’t regret it one bit. So fun. I hope I can get my friends to join next year.” Someone else said, “It’s a good way to get used to staying after school for an extracurricular.”
Students can gain a lot from being in the club. They can learn to project their voices and improve their performance skills. For people who speak in a quieter tone, I understand how hard it can be to speak loudly enough for the whole room to hear. But once they’ve memorized their speeches, they can work on projecting, and there are multiple competitions for them to perform at, so if they don’t get it right one time, then there are more chances to perform to one’s best ability and receive constructive criticism.
The team is also a place to make friends. There are people in the club who are there because they love acting out performances, talking about what they’re passionate about, writing, or just to try out something new. Everybody is welcomed, so there are a lot of fun, kind people to meet, all from different grades and with different personalities. Not only that, but students get complete creative control on what they discuss. It can be a passion, an issue that they think needs to be addressed, a story, or anything at all. They go out in front of people and talk about whatever they want. And hey: it’s a great way for students to get out of a comfort zone and maybe learn more about themselves. So next time that there’s an opportunity to join, consider giving it a chance.
