There's nothing like sitting in a Wisconsin airport after getting 3 hours of sleep on the Tuesday of dead week.

This has been my life for nearly 2 semesters now as a part of Marshall University's Speech & Debate team. Traveling to far away lands, dressing up to the nines, and speaking about the issues closest to my heart until I lose my voice. I miss a lot of school in the process, and travelling so often challenges my introverted nature. I often lose many hours of sleep and my diet is a little less than acceptable on these trips.

I wouldn't change it for the world.

I have purchased 11 beautiful suits and I look incredible in all of them. That in itself is a huge benefit. Additionally, I've gotten to travel to Long Island, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Nashville, and many more places without paying a single dime. I've made this beautiful group of friends who I consider my family. I know all of them at an intimate depth. I know their struggles, their dreams, if they snore, and how much they've grown over the past year. I've gained so many skills I can take with me beyond college. Many reputable institutions have said that out of all the traits a prospective employee could have, they value the ability to communicate above all else. I feel very confident coming out of this program that I will be able to communicate any ideas I have in a productive manner, and I know my friends and I are going to do fabulously in whatever we choose to do.

That is why it's so frustrating for me that many people on my campus don't know of the existence of such an incredible program. Marshall University's Thundering Word is nationally ranked, free to join, free to travel with, and able to connect people with nonprofits and organizations that are doing incredible work. Despite all of its greatness, I'm still met with confused looks when I speak of this program. How can something that I've dedicated 90% of my time to still remain relatively invisible to my peers?

The speech and debate team here at Marshall has absolutely changed my life. It has forced me out of my shell, allowed me to make lifetime friends, wear snazzy suits, and more importantly - it has equipped me with a powerful platform to speak about the issues most close to my heart. Collegiate speech and debate has launched so many incredible speakers into advocacy. People in my community have gotten Fox News interviews, started nonprofits, made documentaries, and made a difference. This benefit means the world to me and others. Women, people of color, people of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people of low socioeconomic status finally get the opportunity to speak out. For that, this community will always have a spot in my heart. Speech and debate gives a voice to the voiceless, and that's the most important trait of all.

So when I stumble into class today, still exhausted and sleep-deprived from a week in Wisconsin, ask me why. Ask me why I continue to do this activity despite the classes I miss, the papers I have to write on the plane, and the blisters on my feet. Ask me why I participate in speech and debate, and I'll tell you about a community that has the ability to completely transform lives.