Say Something by Diana

Say Something by Diana - December 2013 Scholarship Essay

It is a widely accepted fact that the average person's number one fear is of standing up and speaking in front of a crowd, and that this fear outweighs even the fear of death.

Before I came to high school, it wasn't that I was afraid of speaking in public, or speaking up at all - it was that I didn't know how. When with my friends, I was never the one that suggested something knew, the one that voiced her opinion or even had an opinion at all. I was the kind of person that, if my friends were to ask where I wanted to for lunch, would say, "wherever you want to go." This fear extended into a more personal realm - in an argument, I was always the passive one, the one to apologize when it wasn't my fault or stay quiet when I disagreed. I had a voice, but no one heard it - not even me.

Everything changed when, at the end of eighth grade, a group of students from the Speech and Debate club at the high school I planned to attend came to my middle school to recruit members. They put on a performance as a sample of what it meant to be in Speech and Debate, and as I watched them, I was mesmerized. It wasn't just that they were fearless - they were also flawless. They expressed everything they wanted to say in just the right words, and from that moment onward, I was hooked. I wanted to make my voice heard - and I knew just how to do it.

When I entered high school in the fall, I started attending debate practices and chose the type I wanted to learn - Parliamentary Debate, an impromptu, current-events based debate form that pits teams of two against each other in a 40-minute battle of words. In my first debate, I spoke for three minutes.

Fast forward two years, and I am the Vice President and Captain of Parliamentary Debate of the Speech and Debate Club at my school. The title is long and important-sounding, and is a favorite of my mom's to use when bragging to her co-workers; but much more important than the title are the knowledge and growth I have gained and been able to impart upon others.

As captain, I have learned what it is to be a teacher - to know that what I do and the example I set has a huge impact upon others. I have travelled to my former middle school to coach their Speech and Debate team, performing model speeches for the students and giving feedback. Seeing them, I am often reminded of my younger self, quiet both inside and out; for the biggest impact of Speech and Debate has manifested itself in my character. I am no longer afraid to voice my opinions, either to myself or to anyone else. Learning how to say exactly what I want to say has helped me to realize when to say it, and thus improved my self-confidence and sense of self-worth. I've gained knowledge at a rate that is astounding, learning about current events, politics, history, psychology, philosophy, and a host of other topics important to debating, but even more important in everyday life. I've gained responsibility and dedication, work ethic and pride in my accomplishments - all as a result of my decision to start speaking. Because Speech and Debate isn't just about knowing how to say what you want to say - it's about realizing that you want to say something in the first place.