Forensic speech. Love it, hate it, or have no idea what it is, the world of speech has me hooked. Though I only joined for my senior year, I have fallen in love with the system. Early morning trips, hair out of face, suits on (yes, suits!), coffee in hands, and then you are ready to go out and 'speech good!' (Yes, that is proper speech grammar.)
While my director was all like:
...to get me to join, I hope to convince you with a few reasons I learned along the way.
1. If you like acting, you should try forensic speech
I have been acting at my college since my freshman year. And since my freshman year, my Forensic Speech Director has bugged me to join the team. Little did I know, he was right about everything speech. So if you enjoy acting, speech may also be your thing! There are just super fancy costumes called "suits" you must wear.
2. You can turn anything into a speech
You want to do a Poetry Program on body image? Go for it. Want to do a Dramatic Interpretation on the BP oil spill? That would be praised. I did a Duo Interpretation with my awesome freshman partner on Harley Quinn. It was on domestic violence and how comics handle them better than our media. So long as you have a reason, you can turn it into something.
3. You will make friends who are just as awesome as you are
Seriously guys, you will always find someone who you can talk to. Everyone I have ever met have been nothing but friendly. From complimenting your suit to full on Facebook friends, you will connect with people from in-state and out-of-state schools. These people will be just as awesome as you are.
4. You go to other colleges for tournaments (and stare at their campus like...)
Going to other schools will do two things: make you really appreciate your own school, or make you insanely jelly of another school. Either way, going to different schools lets you see how other schools run their tournaments. It also gives you a sense of adventure. Other colleges always seem like a new journey, a place to make your mark!
5. You will learn that suits make you feel fabulous
My friend is a gorgeous woman with super curly, fluffy hair. And when she puts on her red suit, she looks like a model. Power suits are a thing in speech. And when you find your color, you will walk into any room feeling like you own the place.
6. You will gain a family from being on a speech team
100 percent true. Your teammates will be there for you no matter what happens.
7. You gain self-confidence
I have never felt so proud of myself than this past year. Being on this team has given me a confidence boost that I really needed. While I am so not a "big deal," you will defiantly feel much better about yourself and your beliefs. You will speak up more and find that this new you will be going places.
8. Your coaches will push you to do more
They know what you are capable of and they will push you to go to that point and beyond. This past semester, my coach challenged me to try an event I knew nothing about. I freaked out a lot in his office, but took on the challenge anyway. I did not make finals, but he had confidence in me and that drove me to keep going.
9. You will love your time with the team, long-term or short-term
I admit, speech is not for everyone. But whatever time you spend with speech will be time well spent. Your team, as stated before, will be there for you to support anything you need. Whether long-term or just a semester, you will love the time spent with your teammates.
10. Some of your best memories will be from speech team
Whether it was because someone you just met called your suit fabulous, or they gave a speech that changed your views, you will walk away with beautiful memories. Making it to finals for the first time, your team winning team sweeps, your first tournament, and of course the inside jokes you and your speech friends will have.
All in all, speech truly changed my life. Though I was only able to do it for one year, I am proud to have been part of it for such a short time. My teammates are women I would trust with my life (and speeches!). I hope this gives you a bit of an inside look into the wonderful world of forensic speech. Try it out; you never know what could happen!
