Speech league, forensics, competitive public speaking... Whatever you call it, speech league was big deal to you in high school (and might still be). Every speech team was a little bit different, but everybody who ever did speech will remember these ten things.

1. Yelling at walls isn't that weird.

And sometimes slowing down to listen to them if they were good.

2. Seeing a well-known competitor walk into your room and knowing you're not doing better than a 2.

There was always that one person, and you always wanted to be them. Good bye, blue ribbon.

3. Getting a 1, a 2, and a 6 in the same round and just staring at your sheets.

And the worst part: THEY. ONLY. WRITE. COMPLIMENTS. No rhyme or reason to the low score. What gives?!

4. Having a small nervous breakdown when you couldn't find your binder.

I mean, you basically memorized your piece a month ago, but you still need it or you'll lose points!

5. You know that no feeling in this life is better than breaking into semis or quarters.

The satisfaction of seeing your name on the board is something no other feeling can rival. The result of your blood, sweat, and tears all comes to fruition in that one moment.

6. You don't really know what they do in Public Forum, Parliamentary, or Lincoln-Douglas.

I know it's all debate, but really, what's the difference?!

(According to the Internet, Public Forum is a team debate with structured research, Parliamentary is extemporaneous research team debate, and Lincoln-Douglas debate is a philosophical or moral debate. #TheMoreYouKnow)

7. Trying to decide which category was the most depressing.

Prose, Poetry, and DI were always so dramatic. In Poetry, we had poems on everything from murder to rape to drug abuse, and someone died in at least half of the pieces (thus the screaming - see point 2).

8. You're used to the "hurry up and wait" mentality.

Every single competition consisted of hurrying to the school to get registered! ...And then wait to go to the rooms. Then go to the rooms! ...And wait for the judges. And then finish! ...And then wait for awards. Waiting was something you got used to.

9. Forensics friends are the best friends.

All that waiting had an upside. The only real way to bond with people: Stick a bunch of crazy high schoolers (that choose to spend their day yelling at walls) in a building all day or night and give them hours of free time. True bonds will be formed. (And singing will be done.)

10. Bonding with people in college that also did speech in high school.

HUG ME, BROTHA.