My Life on the Competitive Speech Team: From Socially Anxious to Speech Master?

If you had told me five years ago that I would be on a competitive team dedicated to speaking in front of people, I would have laughed in your face.

In middle school I hated talking to people. I would go out of my way to avoid raising my hand in class to draw as little attention as I could, shrinking down into my seat. In 6th grade, I was voted most likely to start my own charity, because being quiet meant I was the nicest, and being timid meant I’d do anything for anyone.

I realized my social anxiety was becoming an issue when I couldn’t strike up conversations in theatre class of all places, so when I saw an announcement for competitive speech, I jumped at the opportunity.

But then came along one of my friends, Ashlyn Brockhoff, who agreed to join the team with me my sophomore year after I asked about it out of the blue. That next year, I signed up for nearly every meet, and put a bit more effort into my pieces, and added a duo piece with Ashlyn. I didn’t immediately become extremely good, and only placed a small handful of times throughout the season, never qualifying for state. Despite my discouragement with my lack of success, I found I still managed to Letter in speech, and made a goal to work even harder next year.

Photo by Gianna Brockhoff

This season started out with a slight bang, as even though I didn’t place in my Poetry category again (nothing new), Ashlyn and I had finally placed in a Serious duo piece we picked up, something we never did before! From then on I continued to improve, always placing in at least one category at every meet, and getting better and better as I progressed. This last meet at Nedrose, I managed to score a 2nd place trophy in Serious Prose, something I had NEVER done before in any category, and it was only my second time performing the piece!

Photo by Jessica Withers

My current categories I’m working with are: Serious Prose, Dramatic Interpretation, Poetry, Serious Duo, and Humorous Duo (the most I’ve ever done!). It’s a lot of work to cut pieces, write and memorize intros, and pull them all together with compelling facial expressions and purposeful movement, but it is all worth it when I see the reactions on the judges’ faces when I pull it off.

Although I still haven't qualified, I am determined to make it to state this year and I won’t give up easily. I’ve grown so much from my starting point as a socially anxious freshman, and I’m still just getting started.

Ballots

Ballots are a love-hate (mostly hate) relationship with me due to the potential wacky critiques that judges write, and frankly rude, questionable statements. Here are some of the most out of pocket comments I've had written on my ballots:

"You portray this nurse" (A comment on a piece about a female doctor, who cuts open people. Yes, she didn't even finish the sentence.)
"I didn't understand this piece at all." (This was on a duo ballot. The judge was on her phone the whole time, of course she didn't understand!)
"Good." (Perhaps the worst commentary to receive on a ballot, especially when paired with a 5 ranking in the room-the lowest rank. This particular ballot I received a 4, and no criticism to grow from. Ouch.)
"Your hair was in your face." (I didn't think I was in a fashion competition but alright. In all actuality, this can be an issue when judging, but writing it on a ballot meant for speaking critiques is still strange to me).
"Stop forcing guttural noises, let them come naturally." (I did not naturally witness someone die in front of me, so I am not confident in my natural ability to display my artificial grief).

Bonus from Ashlyn's ballot:

"You deserve a better piece." (She picked it out herself, we always pick out our own pieces).

Photo by Ella Withers

3-Round v. Finals

In Competitive Speech there has always been two different ways of putting on a meet: a 3-Round tournament or a Finals style tournament.

A 3-Round tournament gives every student competing an equal opportunity to perform their pieces 3 separate times, and picks the top 8 out of everyone's compiled scores. Finals style on the other hand gives everyone 2 rounds to rack up points and then sends the top 8 (or 9, depending on ties and whatnot) into a finals round with 3 judges to get the final 8 ranking.

Recently, state-wide, our committee has decided everyone must begin to transition into only 3-Round tournaments for their meets, springing up a lot of complaints and arguments.

Personally... I HATE finals tournaments. They are very stressful through their short time periods in between rounds and finals and a heightened sense of nervousness for all competition. Finals also give an unfair and unbalanced competition, as categories such as Poetry are subjective to different judges' tastes, and therefore are very difficult to place in if they dislike the piece's subject. The 3-round is the way to go.

Speech has been a roller coaster ride of an activity for me with ups, (placing in events) and downs, (forgetting my memorized intros) and all in-betweens, (long bus rides with mixed feelings). Most importantly, this team has allowed me to grow as a person, gain new friendships, and learn my strengths and weaknesses moving forward. Who wouldn't love it? Oh yeah... Glossophobia. Right.

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